Counties with the highest unemployment in Montana

The first jobs report fully under the new Trump administration showed a softening job market, with the unemployment rate ticking up to 4.1% in February, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released March 7.

Job growth increased but fell below expectations, one of several possible fissures appearing in the once rock-solid labor market. Businesses are pulling back on hiring as the economic forecast and policy outlook grow murkier due to volatile trade policies and large cuts to the federal workforce.

Federal government employment fell by 10,000 in February, pushing up total cuts to the federal workforce. In the first two months of 2025, 62,530 federal workers were let go. However, the most recent cuts, including the Department of Education's workforce getting slashed by nearly half, have not yet appeared in official jobs data. Retail employment also fell by 6,000.

The broader unemployment index, known as the U-6, which also includes laborers working part-time because they can't find full-time work, and those who want to work but have given up searching, rose to 8%, its highest since October 2021.

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 January 2025, 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: Jobs report shows softening labor market

February's job growth of 151,000 fell below economists' expected gains of 160,000, showing the labor market is cooling faster than predicted. Experts say many companies weighing policy changes and economic uncertainty are deciding it's safer to hold off on hiring decisions for now.

"If you were a company and you were saying, 'I'm looking to expand, or I'm looking to hire,' you would have investors in those companies saying, 'Are you crazy?'" Ron Hetrick, senior labor economist at Lightcast, told Marketplace.

Consumer spending fell in January for the first time in two years, which may have led to layoffs or hiring slowdowns, Nela Richardson, ADP's chief economist, told NBC News.

The big story: From bold promises to frozen labor market

After an initial market pop following Trump's electoral win, indexes have slumped to below when he took office, and uncertainty about the future of the markets is a common theme. Are threatened tariffs in place, delayed, reversed, or ramped up? Has that federal worker been fired or given their job back? Are those federal dollars slashed or reinstated? It's a question mark that changes daily.

Research shows that uncertainty invites lower investment, slows employment, and increases financial market volatility. The word "uncertain" showed up 47 times in the March edition of the Beige Book, the Federal Reserve's snapshot of reports from across the nation, compared to 17 times in the previous report from January.

The new administration's blitz of executive orders and trade policy waffling have cast a dense fog over the short-term economic outlook. One thing that is known? Uncertainty isn't good for business planning, job creation, or hiring.

In a March 12 interview with Semafor, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon noted that average consumers likely don't change "what they're going to do because they read about tariffs," but "companies might."

"Uncertainty is not a good thing," Dimon added.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Montana.

49. Richland County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,071 people (131 unemployed)

49. Gallatin County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 76,983 people (1,675 unemployed)

45. Sheridan County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: -0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,756 people (40 unemployed)

45. Treasure County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 430 people (10 unemployed)

45. Chouteau County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,920 people (67 unemployed)

45. Dawson County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,449 people (102 unemployed)

44. Teton County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,878 people (69 unemployed)

42. McCone County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 885 people (22 unemployed)

42. Hill County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,927 people (174 unemployed)

40. Broadwater County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: -0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,943 people (102 unemployed)

40. Powder River County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 916 people (24 unemployed)

39. Blaine County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.7%
--- 1-month change: -0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,712 people (72 unemployed)

37. Jefferson County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,144 people (169 unemployed)

37. Beaverhead County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,648 people (130 unemployed)

33. Lewis and Clark County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 37,243 people (1,070 unemployed)

33. Yellowstone County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 87,645 people (2,568 unemployed)

33. Pondera County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,556 people (74 unemployed)

33. Sweet Grass County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,938 people (57 unemployed)

31. Golden Valley County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3%
--- 1-month change: -1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 439 people (13 unemployed)

31. Meagher County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,070 people (32 unemployed)

28. Park County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,943 people (312 unemployed)

28. Judith Basin County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,048 people (32 unemployed)

28. Cascade County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 39,543 people (1,216 unemployed)

25. Rosebud County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,507 people (112 unemployed)

25. Custer County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,634 people (210 unemployed)

25. Missoula County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 71,460 people (2,261 unemployed)

24. Valley County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,723 people (121 unemployed)

23. Carbon County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: 0.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,719 people (195 unemployed)

22. Wibaux County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 399 people (14 unemployed)

20. Silver Bow County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,428 people (621 unemployed)

20. Garfield County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 692 people (25 unemployed)

18. Deer Lodge County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,368 people (161 unemployed)

18. Flathead County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 59,618 people (2,214 unemployed)

17. Ravalli County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,641 people (794 unemployed)

15. Lake County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,494 people (579 unemployed)

15. Roosevelt County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,681 people (146 unemployed)

13. Madison County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,697 people (150 unemployed)

13. Fergus County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,942 people (244 unemployed)

11. Stillwater County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,621 people (199 unemployed)

11. Musselshell County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,993 people (86 unemployed)

9. Powell County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,638 people (116 unemployed)

9. Big Horn County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: -0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,528 people (201 unemployed)

7. Phillips County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: -0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,100 people (98 unemployed)

7. Glacier County (tie)

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,697 people (265 unemployed)

6. Petroleum County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 266 people (13 unemployed)

5. Granite County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -1.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,424 people (74 unemployed)

4. Wheatland County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 805 people (44 unemployed)

3. Mineral County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.9%
--- 1-month change: -0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -2.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,283 people (134 unemployed)

2. Lincoln County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,445 people (599 unemployed)

1. Sanders County

- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,809 people (348 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Ben Popken, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.