Montana's unemployment rate decreased by 0.1% for the second straight month, ending at 7.6% in October. The U.S. unemployment rate also decreased by 0.1% to 9.0%.
Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly said "Montana's economy has seen slight growth in employment, personal income, and gross domestic product. The recent unemployment declines are encouraging news, and I hope that job growth continues through the holiday season."
Final estimates for the third quarter indicate that total employment, which includes payroll, self-employed, and agricultural workers, gained about 2,200 jobs over the past year. Total employment hit a low in December 2009 and has been trending upwards during 2011 after little change in 2010. Preliminary estimates for total employment in October indicate continued slow job growth of about 600 jobs.
Prices declined in October, with a 0.1% decline in the seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). A decline in the energy index offset small increases in the food index and all items less food and energy index. The index for all items less food and energy (also called core inflation) increased by 0.1%.
Statewide for the first time in at least four years there has been a shift in the statewide county unemployment highs. Big Horn county soared up to the number one spot with 14.6 unemployment, pushing Sanders county into the number two spot with 14.4%, up from 13.3% last month. Lincoln who has been in the top two for years went down to number three. They were also up this month to 13.7% from 13% even. Eleven counties still separate the statewide high from the high in the east. Rosebud County for sixth month in a row held the eastern high. Rosebud sits at 7.7% unemployment, down slightly from last month's 7.8%.Second highest in the east is Roosevelt County. Roosevelt is up slightly to 7.2% from 7% last month.
Statewide and in the east Fallon County boasts the lowest unemployment in Montana for a second month. Fallon County dipped down to an amazing 2.2%, down from 2.8% last month. Richland County edged their way back into the bottom as well with 2.8%, down from 3.5% last month.
These are the unemployment rates for remainder of eastern Montana Counties. All counties in the far east either reduced their unemployment rates or held them. None increased.
Carter County is down to 3.1% from 3.7%.
Custer County is down to 3.7% from 4.3%.
Daniels County is down to 3.8% from 5.1%.
Dawson County is down to 3.6% from 4.3%.
Garfield County is down for a fourth month to 3.6% from 4.3%.
McCone County is down to 3% even from 3.4%.
Powder River County is down to 4.6% from 4.9%.
Prairie County is down for a fifth month to 3.8% from 3.9% .
Sheridan County is down to 3.4% from 4.0% even.
Treasure is held at 4.3%.
Valley County is down for a second month to 4.5% from 5.1%.
and Wibaux County held at 3.8% unemployment.
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