Unlike many states, Montana did not need to borrow money from the federal government to make sure it could pay for the rise of unemployment claims during the 2009 recession.

Instead, Montana was able to keep its unemployment insurance pool solvent by using a system of schedules that increased the rate Montana employers pay for unemployment insurance.

For the ten years before 2009, the system never moved from schedule 5, however, when the recession kicked in, it jumped to schedule 7. On November 28, the Montana department of Labor and Industry announced that in 2013 the rate would step back down to schedule 6.

"Each employer will be different," explains labor and industry department spokeswoman Casey Kyler-West, "but to give you an overall average, employers will now be spending about $35 less per employee depending on how many employees they have."

The contribution rates in 2013 will change from an average of 2.32% in 2012 to an average of 2.12% in 2013. The change from schedule 7 to schedule 6 is due to a decline in the number of people making unemployment claims.

“Our statutory unemployment rate schedule is doing exactly what it is designed to do, provide for benefits during economic downturns, while rebuilding the fund as the economy grows”, said Unemployment Insurance Administrator Roy Mulvaney.

Because unemployment insurance is based off an individual employer's unemployment record, not all businesses will see the same rates. However, more specific information will be sent out near the middle of December. For more information on unemployment insurance, rates, e.t.c. visit the State's unemployment insurance division website.

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