State unemployment rate matches nation's at 4.1 percent

Montana’s unemployment rate moved to 4.1 percent for the month of December despite payroll employment gains coming in as the second fastest in the nation.

Payroll employment increased by 3,900 over the month, the strongest payroll job gains since January 2015.

In a press release from Gov. Steven Bullock’s office, the United States unemployment rate is also at 4.1 percent.

“Montana is starting off the new year with Montana workers, businesses, and communities benefiting from our strong economy and rising wages,” said Governor Bullock. “Montana added nearly 4,000 payroll jobs in the last month, making Montana the second fastest state in the nation for payroll employment growth.”

Payroll employment increased by 3,900 over the month, the strongest payroll job gains since January 2015.

Despite the strong payroll employment growth, the unemployment rate ticked up slightly because model estimates indicate that total employment (which includes payroll jobs plus the self-employed and agricultural workers) remained fairly level over the month.

Unemployment rate and employment estimates are revised each year in February in a process called benchmarking, which typically results in more accurate estimates and that likely will resolve conflicts between total and payroll employment trends.

The next Labor Situation Report for the month of January 2018 will be released on Monday, March 12, 2018.

State unemployment rate estimates are not released during the month of February because analysts re-estimate data from the prior year in a process called benchmarking, which results in more accurate estimates.