Montana unemployment rate falls to 3.5% in April

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced Montana’s unemployment rate ticked down to 3.5 percent in April. Montana’s unemployment rate was lower than the national unemployment rate, which remained unchanged over the month at 4.3 percent.

“As businesses grow and expand in Montana, we want to ensure our workforce is able to meet their employment needs,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Through 406 JOBS, we’re reducing barriers to employment to continue our progress on increasing labor participation.”

Montana's labor force, total employment (which includes payroll, agricultural, and self‑employed workers), and unemployment all declined over the month. The decline in unemployment was larger than the decline in employment. As a result, the unemployment rate ticked down slightly. The number of unemployed fell by 690 in April and total employment declined by 579 jobs. Payroll jobs rose by 800 in April, with the largest gains in construction and healthcare.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in April. Over the last twelve months, the all items index increased 3.8 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for energy rose 3.8 percent in April, accounting for over forty percent of the monthly all items increase. Core inflation, or the index for all items less food and energy, rose 2.8 percent over the last twelve months.

“These trends signal ongoing opportunities for Montana workers and job seekers across key industries, like construction and healthcare,” said Sarah Swanson, Commissioner of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. “Montana's workforce development initiatives continue to support growth in these essential sectors."

Unemployment figures are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted numbers remove the effects of events that follow a regular month-to-month pattern each year. These adjustments make non-seasonal patterns easier to identify. The margin of error for the unemployment rate is plus or minus 0.5 percentage points at the 90 percent confidence level. All questions relating to the calculation of unemployment rates should be directed to the Montana Department of Labor & Industry’s Data and Operations Bureau at 406-444-4100.

The next Labor Market Information report, including data from May 2026, will be released on Tuesday, June 23.

County unemployment rates and employment

The unemployment rate and ranking for each of Montana’s 56 counties is provided below for convenience. County unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted and should be compared to the unadjusted statewide unemployment rate of 3.0 percent.

• Rank 1: Prairie County, unemployment rate 1.2, change over year -0.3, current employment 642, job change from last year -98.
• Rank 2: Carter County, unemployment rate 1.5, change over year -0.6, current employment 652, job change from last year -6.
• Rank 3: Powder River County, unemployment rate 1.8, change over year -0.9, current employment 951, job change from last year -3.
• Rank 3: Treasure County, unemployment rate 1.8, change over year -0.3, current employment 373, job change from last year -5.
• Rank 5: Liberty County, unemployment rate 1.9, change over year 0, current employment 893, job change from last year 0.
• Rank 6: Beaverhead County, unemployment rate 2.2, change over year -0.6, current employment 4,560, job change from last year -49.
• Rank 6: Sweet Grass County, unemployment rate 2.2, change over year -0.9, current employment 1,749, job change from last year 43.
• Rank 8: Chouteau County, unemployment rate 2.3, change over year -0.1, current employment 2,612, job change from last year -92.
• Rank 8: Sheridan County, unemployment rate 2.3, change over year -0.6, current employment 1,647, job change from last year -21.
• Rank 8: Teton County, unemployment rate 2.3, change over year -0.1, current employment 2,856, job change from last year -47.
• Rank 8: Toole County, unemployment rate 2.3, change over year -0.4, current employment 2,153, job change from last year -36.
• Rank 12: Custer County, unemployment rate 2.4, change over year -0.2, current employment 6,349, job change from last year -126.
• Rank 12: Daniels County, unemployment rate 2.4, change over year 0.1, current employment 697, job change from last year -18.
• Rank 12: Judith Basin County, unemployment rate 2.4, change over year -1.1, current employment 953, job change from last year 18.
• Rank 12: Wibaux County, unemployment rate 2.4, change over year -0.9, current employment 411, job change from last year 4.
• Rank 16: Broadwater County, unemployment rate 2.5, change over year 0, current employment 4,003, job change from last year -7.
• Rank 16: Carbon County, unemployment rate 2.5, change over year -0.7, current employment 5,506, job change from last year -97.
• Rank 16: Fallon County, unemployment rate 2.5, change over year 0.6, current employment 1,413, job change from last year -11.
• Rank 16: Gallatin County, unemployment rate 2.5, change over year 0.1, current employment 75,997, job change from last year -1,355.
• Rank 16: Jefferson County, unemployment rate 2.5, change over year -0.2, current employment 6,100, job change from last year -24.
• Rank 16: Richland County, unemployment rate 2.5, change over year 0.1, current employment 5,442, job change from last year -141.
• Rank 22: Dawson County, unemployment rate 2.6, change over year 0.2, current employment 4,196, job change from last year -68.
• Rank 22: Garfield County, unemployment rate 2.6, change over year 0.5, current employment 625, job change from last year -25.
• Rank 24: Valley County, unemployment rate 2.7, change over year -0.1, current employment 3,418, job change from last year -19.
• Rank 25: Fergus County, unemployment rate 2.8, change over year -0.2, current employment 5,763, job change from last year -9.
• Rank 25: Hill County, unemployment rate 2.8, change over year -0.2, current employment 7,054, job change from last year 209.
• Rank 25: Lewis and Clark County, unemployment rate 2.8, change over year 0, current employment 36,516, job change from last year -77.
• Rank 25: Meagher County, unemployment rate 2.8, change over year -0.1, current employment 971, job change from last year 9.
• Rank 25: Missoula County, unemployment rate 2.8, change over year -0.2, current employment 69,846, job change from last year -244.
• Rank 25: Park County, unemployment rate 2.8, change over year -0.3, current employment 10,199, job change from last year 517.
• Rank 25: Stillwater County, unemployment rate 2.8, change over year -0.8, current employment 4,512, job change from last year -80.
• Rank 25: Yellowstone County, unemployment rate 2.8, change over year -0.1, current employment 85,697, job change from last year -1,293.
• Rank 33: Cascade County, unemployment rate 2.9, change over year 0, current employment 37,833, job change from last year -1,097.
• Rank 33: Golden Valley County, unemployment rate 2.9, change over year 0, current employment 436, job change from last year 2.
• Rank 35: Blaine County, unemployment rate 3, change over year 0.5, current employment 2,600, job change from last year -78.
• Rank 35: Phillips County, unemployment rate 3, change over year -0.7, current employment 1,972, job change from last year -16.
• Rank 37: McCone County, unemployment rate 3.1, change over year 0.4, current employment 846, job change from last year -14.
• Rank 38: Flathead County, unemployment rate 3.2, change over year -0.3, current employment 58,582, job change from last year 1,301.
• Rank 38: Ravalli County, unemployment rate 3.2, change over year -0.2, current employment 20,377, job change from last year 181.
• Rank 40: Silver Bow County, unemployment rate 3.3, change over year -0.1, current employment 17,258, job change from last year 131.
• Rank 41: Deer Lodge County, unemployment rate 3.4, change over year -0.3, current employment 4,323, job change from last year 23.
• Rank 41: Pondera County, unemployment rate 3.4, change over year 0.4, current employment 2,363, job change from last year -59.
• Rank 43: Lake County, unemployment rate 3.5, change over year -0.2, current employment 14,055, job change from last year -140.
• Rank 44: Wheatland County, unemployment rate 3.8, change over year -0.9, current employment 676, job change from last year -17.
• Rank 45: Petroleum County, unemployment rate 3.9, change over year -0.2, current employment 247, job change from last year 12.
• Rank 46: Mineral County, unemployment rate 4, change over year -0.7, current employment 2,171, job change from last year -16.
• Rank 46: Powell County, unemployment rate 4, change over year 0.1, current employment 2,361, job change from last year -119.
• Rank 48: Roosevelt County, unemployment rate 4.2, change over year 0.2, current employment 3,603, job change from last year -51.
• Rank 48: Rosebud County, unemployment rate 4.2, change over year 1.3, current employment 3,497, job change from last year -211.
• Rank 50: Sanders County, unemployment rate 4.6, change over year -1.1, current employment 4,811, job change from last year -36.
• Rank 51: Musselshell County, unemployment rate 4.7, change over year 0, current employment 1,829, job change from last year -54.
• Rank 52: Glacier County, unemployment rate 4.9, change over year 0.2, current employment 5,579, job change from last year 4.
• Rank 53: Madison County, unemployment rate 5.4, change over year 0.8, current employment 2,782, job change from last year -250.
• Rank 54: Big Horn County, unemployment rate 5.7, change over year 0.4, current employment 4,140, job change from last year -165.
• Rank 54: Granite County, unemployment rate 5.7, change over year -0.2, current employment 1,201, job change from last year -56.
• Rank 56: Lincoln County, unemployment rate 6.3, change over year 0.1, current employment 8,005, job change from last year -95.

Reservation unemployment rates and employment

The unemployment rate and ranking for each of Montana’s seven reservations is provided below. Reservation unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted and should be compared to the unadjusted statewide unemployment rate of 3.0 percent. Reservation areas overlap with county areas, meaning that unemployed individuals living on a reservation will be included in both the reservation and county totals.

• Rank 1: Flathead Reservation, unemployment rate 4.2, change over year -0.3, current employment 13,518, job change from last year -128.
• Rank 2: Fort Peck Reservation, unemployment rate 5.8, change over year 0.3, current employment 3,025, job change from last year -40.
• Rank 3: Blackfeet Reservation, unemployment rate 6.5, change over year 0.2, current employment 4,087, job change from last year -4.
• Rank 4: Rocky Boy’s Reservation, unemployment rate 8.1, change over year -0.3, current employment 934, job change from last year 6.
• Rank 5: Northern Reservation, unemployment rate 9.2, change over year 2.3, current employment 1,308, job change from last year -69.
• Rank 6: Crow Reservation, unemployment rate 9.3, change over year 0.5, current employment 1,985, job change from last year -75.
• Rank 7: Fort Belknap Reservation, unemployment rate 12.4, change over year 0.1, current employment 825, job change from last year -23.