HELENA – The unemployment rate in Montana held steady at 3.7% in December while the national jobless rate increased to 3.9%.
Montana added roughly 1,100 jobs over the month.
Total employment, which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers, indicated a jump of 1,112 jobs in December but the jobless rate remained steady due to a similar increase in the labor force of 1,255 people.
Payroll employment indicated jobs gains of 300, with small changes across all industries. Meanwhile, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined in December due to a 7.5% drop in gas prices.
McCone County saw the lowest December unemployment rate at 2.0% while the highest jobless rate stood at 8.0% in Lincoln County.
