Photo Smoothies // Shutterstock
Counties with the highest unemployment in Montana
2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.
Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.
The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.
To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Montana, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs
The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.
"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.
Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.
"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.
What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.
The big story: California wildfires still rage
Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.
However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.
To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Montana.
#56. Fallon County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,650 people (21 unemployed)
#55. Prairie County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 654 people (10 unemployed)
#54. Carter County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 687 people (12 unemployed)
#53. Powder River County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,028 people (18 unemployed)
#52. Sheridan County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,699 people (32 unemployed)
#51. Hill County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,541 people (144 unemployed)
#50. Liberty County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 935 people (19 unemployed)
#49. Judith Basin County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,041 people (21 unemployed)
#48. Treasure County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 337 people (7 unemployed)
#47. Daniels County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 824 people (17 unemployed)
#46. Sweet Grass County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,886 people (39 unemployed)
#45. Teton County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,741 people (58 unemployed)
#44. Valley County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,966 people (82 unemployed)
#43. Richland County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,851 people (122 unemployed)
#42. Custer County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,467 people (138 unemployed)
#41. Meagher County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,008 people (22 unemployed)
#40. Chouteau County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,440 people (54 unemployed)
#39. Dawson County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,344 people (95 unemployed)
#38. Beaverhead County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,240 people (113 unemployed)
#37. Stillwater County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,202 people (117 unemployed)
#36. Lewis and Clark County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 39,705 people (893 unemployed)
#35. Gallatin County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 82,012 people (1,843 unemployed)
#34. McCone County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 947 people (23 unemployed)
#33. Fergus County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,809 people (137 unemployed)
#32. Deer Lodge County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,364 people (133 unemployed)
#31. Jefferson County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,244 people (155 unemployed)
#30. Yellowstone County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 87,296 people (2,162 unemployed)
#29. Petroleum County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 267 people (7 unemployed)
#28. Toole County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,002 people (53 unemployed)
#27. Musselshell County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,429 people (64 unemployed)
#26. Broadwater County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,828 people (73 unemployed)
#25. Rosebud County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,614 people (95 unemployed)
#24. Cascade County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 39,425 people (1,035 unemployed)
#23. Garfield County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 692 people (19 unemployed)
#22. Ravalli County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,310 people (610 unemployed)
#21. Missoula County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 68,877 people (1,885 unemployed)
#20. Powell County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,945 people (82 unemployed)
#19. Carbon County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 5,788 people (162 unemployed)
#18. Wibaux County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 413 people (12 unemployed)
#17. Silver Bow County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,979 people (520 unemployed)
#16. Phillips County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,689 people (51 unemployed)
#15. Blaine County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,119 people (64 unemployed)
#14. Roosevelt County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Down 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,173 people (127 unemployed)
#13. Pondera County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 2,477 people (77 unemployed)
#12. Park County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,011 people (308 unemployed)
#11. Lake County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,215 people (442 unemployed)
#10. Flathead County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 53,703 people (1,808 unemployed)
#9. Golden Valley County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 373 people (14 unemployed)
#8. Wheatland County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 730 people (28 unemployed)
#7. Granite County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,628 people (66 unemployed)
#6. Big Horn County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,520 people (184 unemployed)
#5. Sanders County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,337 people (238 unemployed)
#4. Glacier County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,477 people (258 unemployed)
#3. Lincoln County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,808 people (440 unemployed)
#2. Madison County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,911 people (200 unemployed)
#1. Mineral County
- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,792 people (106 unemployed)
This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
