State’s Unemployment Rate At 3.6 Percent

Gov. Greg Gianforte has announced Montana’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in January. Montana’s unemployment rate was lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.3 percent in January.

“In Montana, we remain focused on creating an environment where small businesses and manufacturers can thrive and create more good paying jobs,” Gianforte said. “Through 406 JOBS, we’re making sure every Montanan who is able to work has a clear pathway to those good-paying jobs and the opportunity to achieve the American dream.”

Roosevelt County ranks 42nd in the state with an unemployment rate of 5.8 percent.

The five counties with the lowest unemployment in Montana are Carter at 1.7 percent, Liberty at 2.1, Powder River at 2.2, Prairie at 2.2 and Fallon at 2.5. Daniels County is sixth at 2.6 percent.

Other eastern Montana counties include Richland in 11th at 3.2 percent, Dawson in 14th at 3.5 percent, Sheridan in 14th at 3.7 percent, Mc-Cone in 29th at 4.2 percent, Valley in 35th at 4.5 percent and Phillips in 46th at 6.2 percent.

The five counties with the highest unemployment are Lincoln, Sanders, Petroleum, Granite and Big Horn.

The Fort Peck Reservation has an unemployment rate of 8.3 percent.

Montana’s labor force reached 579,400 in January, adding approximately 3,600 workers over the last twelve months, while total employment (which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers) decreased slightly over the month. Payroll jobs were mostly unchanged in January, with gains in construction and healthcare offset by a decline in professional and business services.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in January. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.4 percent before seasonal adjustment.

This month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also released revised labor market estimates to improve the accuracy of the estimates of the unemployment rate and payroll jobs.

Newly revised estimates show Montana’s unemployment rate averaged 3.3 percent in 2025 with modest employment declines of 0.3 percent, or approximately 1,430 fewer jobs. The data also shows Montana’s labor force reached a high of 577,850 in 2025, growing 0.1 percent over the year.

Last August, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry released a report showing that more than 100,000 working age Montanans are not employed and not seeking work. Through Gov. Gianforte’s 406 JOBS Initiative, the department is helping Montanans enter or re-enter the workforce with a specific focus on health care, construction, hospitality and recreation, advanced manufacturing and computing, education and child care, and financial and professional services.