Montana’s unemployment rate held steady at a remarkably low 2.8% in June, marking the ninth consecutive month below 3% and extending a historic run of four straight years with unemployment at or below 3.4%, according to Governor Greg Gianforte.
“With more Montanans working now than ever before and historically low unemployment, we’re seeing the results of our pro-jobs policies,” Governor Gianforte said. “This month marks a new record stretch of four years of low unemployment and reinforces Montana’s reputation as one of the nation’s best places to live, work, and raise a family.”
Montana’s unemployment rate was 1.3 percentage points lower than the national rate, which stood at 4.1% in June. The state ranked among the top five nationwide for lowest unemployment rates.
While total employment—including payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers—saw a slight dip in June, certain sectors showed growth. The construction, financial activities, and professional services industries each added 500 or more jobs over the month. However, payroll jobs decreased by 500, with losses reported in retail and wholesale trade, private education, healthcare, administrative and support services, and federal government employment.
June also marked the fourth consecutive month that the number of unemployed Montanans remained below 16,000, hovering near the record low of just under 14,000 set in 2023.
On the inflation front, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.3% in June on a seasonally adjusted basis. The increase was largely driven by a 0.2% rise in shelter costs, the primary contributor to the monthly overall inflation uptick. Over the past year, the all-items index increased 2.7%, with core inflation—excluding food and energy—rising 2.9%. Core inflation increased 0.2% in June alone.
By: DNU staff