Counties with the highest unemployment in Montana
In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.
To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Montana using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 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.
Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS.
In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses.
The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.
To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Montana.
#25. Ravalli County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,509 people (560 unemployed)
#24. Missoula County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 69,156 people (1,741 unemployed)
#23. Yellowstone County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 87,636 people (2,164 unemployed)
#22. Toole County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,052 people (53 unemployed)
#21. Carbon County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 5,848 people (151 unemployed)
#20. Cascade County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 39,328 people (1,028 unemployed)
#19. Phillips County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,738 people (48 unemployed)
#18. Blaine County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,176 people (61 unemployed)
#17. Musselshell County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,463 people (69 unemployed)
#16. Rosebud County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,701 people (105 unemployed)
#15. Silver Bow County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,887 people (498 unemployed)
#14. Flathead County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 54,279 people (1,543 unemployed)
#13. Roosevelt County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,201 people (127 unemployed)
#12. Lake County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,359 people (437 unemployed)
#11. Granite County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,661 people (51 unemployed)
#10. Pondera County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,515 people (82 unemployed)
#9. Wibaux County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 432 people (15 unemployed)
#8. Sanders County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,411 people (187 unemployed)
#7. Big Horn County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 4,532 people (164 unemployed)
#6. Golden Valley County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 381 people (14 unemployed)
#5. Wheatland County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 756 people (29 unemployed)
#4. Glacier County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,693 people (222 unemployed)
#3. Lincoln County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 8,919 people (351 unemployed)
#2. Mineral County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,818 people (84 unemployed)
#1. Madison County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,678 people (194 unemployed)
This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
