Montana’s Unemployment Nudges Up But Stays Low At 3.3%
Montana’s unemployment rate edged up to 3.3 percent in November, according to figures released by Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office, marking a modest increase while still extending a streak of historically low joblessness in the state.
The November rate continued a run of more than four consecutive years in which Montana’s unemployment has remained at or below 3.4 percent. Even with the increase, the state’s unemployment rate was well below the national figure of 4.6 percent for the same month, placing Montana among the ten states with the lowest unemployment rates in the country.
State labor data show Montana’s workforce grew in recent months, which contributed to the higher unemployment rate. The labor force added roughly 2,200 workers over the two-month period ending in November. During that same time, total employment — which includes payroll jobs, agricultural workers and the self-employed — increased by nearly 800 positions. When the labor force grows faster than employment, the unemployment rate can rise even as more people are working.
The Payroll sector saw employment saw over the past two months. However, the increases were offset by declines in government and health care employment.
October unemployment figures were not available due to a lapse in federal appropriations in 2025, limiting month-to-month comparisons.
Economic data released alongside the employment figures showed inflation continued to ease. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from September to November 2025. Over the past year, overall prices rose 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, increased 2.6 percent over the 12-month period. Energy prices rose 4.2 percent over the year, while food prices increased 2.6 percent.
The administration also highlighted recent workforce development efforts tied to the governor’s 406 JOBS initiative. In December, Gianforte and the Montana Department of Labor and Industry announced the first-year work plan for the program, developed by the State Workforce Innovation Board. The plan, released about three months after the initiative was launched by executive order, outlines steps aimed at modernizing Montana’s workforce system.
COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
| Unemployment Rate | Employment | |||
Rank | County | Current Unemployment Rate | Change over Year | Current Employment | Job Change from Last Year |
1 | Carter | 2 | 0 | 649 | -26 |
1 | Powder River | 2 | 0 | 944 | 75 |
3 | Fallon | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1381 | -74 |
3 | Richland | 2.2 | 0.3 | 5788 | -182 |
3 | Treasure | 2.2 | 0.4 | 360 | -32 |
6 | Sweet Grass | 2.3 | 0.4 | 1993 | 126 |
7 | Garfield | 2.4 | -1.1 | 601 | -5 |
7 | Golden Valley | 2.4 | -0.9 | 403 | -2 |
9 | Custer | 2.5 | 0.4 | 6446 | 38 |
10 | Liberty | 2.7 | 0.9 | 850 | -10 |
10 | Prairie | 2.7 | 1.2 | 609 | -113 |
12 | Beaverhead | 2.8 | 0.4 | 4626 | 136 |
12 | Broadwater | 2.8 | 0.9 | 3859 | -24 |
12 | Chouteau | 2.8 | 0.9 | 2611 | -118 |
12 | Meagher | 2.8 | 0.5 | 980 | -28 |
12 | Teton | 2.8 | 0.9 | 2765 | 24 |
17 | Daniels | 2.9 | 0.8 | 701 | 0 |
17 | Sheridan | 2.9 | 1 | 1654 | -17 |
17 | Valley | 2.9 | 0.7 | 3539 | -34 |
20 | Dawson | 3 | 0.9 | 4282 | -40 |
20 | Hill | 3 | 1 | 6944 | 189 |
20 | Stillwater | 3 | 0.7 | 4411 | -45 |
20 | Gallatin | 3 | 0.6 | 72186 | -3188 |
24 | Missoula | 3.1 | 0.6 | 70493 | 199 |
24 | Toole | 3.1 | 0.7 | 2144 | 20 |
24 | Yellowstone | 3.1 | 0.7 | 86769 | -74 |
27 | Blaine | 3.2 | 0.9 | 2631 | 49 |
27 | Carbon | 3.2 | 0.4 | 5497 | -60 |
27 | Lewis and Clark | 3.2 | 0.8 | 36518 | -169 |
27 | McCone | 3.2 | 0.4 | 797 | -15 |
27 | Pondera | 3.2 | 0 | 2368 | -50 |
27 | Wibaux | 3.2 | 0 | 394 | 28 |
33 | Fergus | 3.3 | 0.9 | 5635 | -21 |
33 | Jefferson | 3.3 | 0.8 | 5984 | -48 |
33 | Petroleum | 3.3 | 0.4 | 236 | 0 |
33 | Phillips | 3.3 | 0.6 | 1960 | 44 |
33 | Rosebud | 3.3 | 0.8 | 3589 | 187 |
33 | Cascade | 3.3 | 0.7 | 38307 | -432 |
39 | Judith Basin | 3.5 | 1.3 | 920 | -54 |
40 | Park | 3.6 | 0.6 | 9503 | -337 |
40 | Silver Bow | 3.6 | 0.7 | 17773 | 763 |
40 | Flathead | 3.6 | 0.6 | 59583 | 2146 |
43 | Ravalli | 3.7 | 0.8 | 20879 | 713 |
44 | Lake | 3.9 | 0.8 | 14430 | 371 |
44 | Powell | 3.9 | 0.8 | 2476 | -18 |
44 | Roosevelt | 3.9 | 0.6 | 3593 | 73 |
47 | Wheatland | 4 | 0.5 | 691 | -33 |
48 | Deer Lodge | 4.2 | 1.1 | 4313 | 74 |
49 | Mineral | 4.6 | -0.1 | 2163 | -5 |
49 | Musselshell | 4.6 | 1.3 | 1831 | -59 |
51 | Glacier | 5.2 | 0.7 | 5525 | 137 |
52 | Big Horn | 5.4 | 1.4 | 4281 | -42 |
53 | Sanders | 5.5 | 0.4 | 4890 | 353 |
54 | Granite | 5.8 | 1.1 | 1285 | -20 |
55 | Lincoln | 6 | 0.8 | 8126 | 143 |
56 | Madison | 8.2 | 2.6 | 2969 | -221 |
RESERVATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
| Unemployment Rate | Employment | |||
Rank | Area | Current Unemployment Rate | Change over Year | Current Employment | Job Change from Last Year |
1 | Flathead | 4.7 | 0.9 | 13862 | 384 |
2 | Fort Peck | 5.6 | 1.1 | 3030 | 49 |
3 | Blackfeet | 6.9 | 0.9 | 4050 | 88 |
4 | Northern Cheyenne | 7.5 | 1.9 | 1347 | 42 |
5 | Rocky Boy's | 8.4 | 2.8 | 924 | -1 |
6 | Crow | 9 | 2.4 | 2049 | -19 |
7 | Fort Belknap | 13 | 2.8 | 834 | 16 |
The roadmap identifies a dozen priorities intended to better align state resources, reduce administrative barriers and improve coordination between public and private partners, with the goal of connecting workers to jobs and helping employers meet labor needs across the state.
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