HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced Montana’s unemployment rate remained at 3.2 percent in August. Montana’s unemployment rate was lower than the national unemployment rate, which remained at 4.1 percent. Montana ranks in the top fifteen states with the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.
“Montana continues to rank in the top states with the lowest unemployment rates as businesses create more good-paying jobs and the Montana Department of Labor and Industry helps match workers with meaningful careers,” Gov. Gianforte said. “As we continue prioritizing workforce development programs, we’re working across the public and private sector to promote career, college, military, and entrepreneurship pathways for Montanans.”
Total employment (which includes payroll, agricultural, and self‑employed workers) increased by 482 jobs in August, while the labor force increased by 177. The number of unemployed fell by 305 in August, a small drop that resulted in an unchanged unemployment rate. Payroll jobs increased slightly, driven by employment increases in health care, social assistance, and construction.
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The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in August. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.4 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for gasoline rose 3.9 percent in August, accounting for one third of the monthly all-items increase. Core inflation, or the index for all items less food and energy, rose 2.4 percent over the last twelve months.
“Montana’s unemployment rate continues to hold at a low level, reflecting stability in our labor market,” said Sarah Swanson, Commissioner of Labor and Industry. “This report shows that Montana employers are continuing to create opportunities, and our workforce programs remain focused on helping workers gain the skills needed in key industries.”
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 September 2026, will be released on Tuesday, October 20th.
Labor market information online
Visit our website at www.lmi.mt.gov for additional information and analysis, including industry employment levels, background on the unemployment rate, and wage rates by occupation. Visit www.lmi.mt.gov/home/job-tracking for Montana unemployment claims and current economic data.
County unemployment rates
The unemployment rate and ranking for each of Montana’s 56 counties is provided below for your convenience. County unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted and should be compared to the unadjusted statewide unemployment rate of 3.0%.
- Carter: 1.4% unemployment, 700 employed, rank 1
- Treasure: 1.6% unemployment, 565 employed, rank 2
- Powder River: 1.7% unemployment, 977 employed, rank 3
- Garfield: 1.8% unemployment, 611 employed, rank 4
- Sweet Grass: 2.0% unemployment, 1,787 employed, rank 5
- Fallon: 2.1% unemployment, 1,568 employed, rank 6
- Park: 2.1% unemployment, 11,569 employed, rank 6
- Sheridan: 2.1% unemployment, 1,656 employed, rank 6
- Beaverhead: 2.2% unemployment, 4,653 employed, rank 9
- Judith Basin: 2.2% unemployment, 905 employed, rank 9
- Meagher: 2.2% unemployment, 1,003 employed, rank 9
- Teton: 2.2% unemployment, 2,963 employed, rank 9
- Wibaux: 2.2% unemployment, 406 employed, rank 9
- Daniels: 2.3% unemployment, 716 employed, rank 14
- Liberty: 2.3% unemployment, 862 employed, rank 14
- Prairie: 2.3% unemployment, 555 employed, rank 14
- Gallatin: 2.3% unemployment, 77,665 employed, rank 14
- Richland: 2.4% unemployment, 5,692 employed, rank 18
- Toole: 2.4% unemployment, 2,179 employed, rank 18
- Carbon: 2.5% unemployment, 5,535 employed, rank 20
- Custer: 2.5% unemployment, 6,250 employed, rank 20
- Fergus: 2.5% unemployment, 5,866 employed, rank 20
- Valley: 2.5% unemployment, 3,495 employed, rank 20
- Blaine: 2.6% unemployment, 2,524 employed, rank 24
- Jefferson: 2.6% unemployment, 6,133 employed, rank 24
- Phillips: 2.6% unemployment, 2,018 employed, rank 24
- Dawson: 2.7% unemployment, 4,109 employed, rank 27
- Flathead: 2.7% unemployment, 61,698 employed, rank 27
- Golden Valley: 2.8% unemployment, 446 employed, rank 29
- Lewis and Clark: 2.8% unemployment, 36,587 employed, rank 29
- Missoula: 2.8% unemployment, 69,408 employed, rank 29
- Stillwater: 2.8% unemployment, 4,536 employed, rank 29
- Broadwater: 2.9% unemployment, 4,005 employed, rank 33
- Chouteau: 2.9% unemployment, 2,674 employed, rank 33
- McCone: 3.0% unemployment, 853 employed, rank 35
- Powell: 3.0% unemployment, 2,650 employed, rank 35
- Yellowstone: 3.1% unemployment, 85,674 employed, rank 37
- Ravalli: 3.2% unemployment, 20,341 employed, rank 38
- Lake: 3.3% unemployment, 14,502 employed, rank 39
- Cascade: 3.3% unemployment, 37,017 employed, rank 39
- Hill: 3.4% unemployment, 6,882 employed, rank 41
- Silver Bow: 3.5% unemployment, 17,178 employed, rank 42
- Deer Lodge: 3.6% unemployment, 4,340 employed, rank 43
- Pondera: 3.6% unemployment, 2,413 employed, rank 43
- Wheatland: 3.6% unemployment, 732 employed, rank 43
- Petroleum: 3.7% unemployment, 234 employed, rank 46
- Mineral: 3.8% unemployment, 2,178 employed, rank 47
- Granite: 4.0% unemployment, 1,348 employed, rank 48
- Musselshell: 4.1% unemployment, 1,799 employed, rank 49
- Rosebud: 4.3% unemployment, 3,369 employed, rank 50
- Roosevelt: 4.5% unemployment, 3,548 employed, rank 51
- Sanders: 4.7% unemployment, 4,837 employed, rank 52
- Madison: 4.8% unemployment, 3,066 employed, rank 53
- Glacier: 5.0% unemployment, 6,070 employed, rank 54
- Lincoln: 5.1% unemployment, 8,194 employed, rank 55
- Big Horn: 6.3% unemployment, 4,095 employed, rank 56
Reservation unemployment rates
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%. Reservation areas overlap with county areas, meaning that unemployed individuals living on a reservation will be included in both the reservation and county totals.
- Flathead Reservation: 4.0% unemployment, 13,912 employed, rank 1
- Fort Peck Reservation: 6.0% unemployment, 2,993 employed, rank 2
- Blackfeet Reservation: 6.7% unemployment, 4,429 employed, rank 3
- Northern Cheyenne Reservation: 9.4% unemployment, 1,272 employed, rank 4
- Rocky Boy's Reservation: 9.5% unemployment, 927 employed, rank 5
- Crow Reservation: 10.1% unemployment, 1,966 employed, rank 6
- Fort Belknap Reservation: 11.1% unemployment, 804 employed, rank 7
