HELENA, Mont. – Montana’s unemployment rate continued to hold steady in July, as the U.S. unemployment rate rose.
Montana has seen its unemployment rate at or below 3.4% for 37 consecutive months, marking a record stretch. This surpasses the previous record of 15 consecutive months during 2006 and 2007, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.
The same month, the national rate rose to 4.3%.
July saw total employment rise by 1,227, bringing the number of working Montanans to 562,000. The private sector, especially the health care, accommodations, and food service industries, have driven this increase.
Despite these positive job numbers, inflation continues to pose a challenge for Montana families. According to the U.S. Joint Economic Committee, inflation has risen nearly 22% in Montana since 2020, leaving Montana families to spend $1,117 more per month on essentials like groceries, gas, housing, and energy.
