Can Montana's Job Picture Get Any Better Than This?

Montana's jobless rate continues to set records this fall, records that may take many decades to be topped, if ever.

The Department of Labor and Industries is reporting Montana's unemployment has once more remained at, or below, 3.4% percent for the 40th month in a row. That continues to be lower than the national jobless rate, which hit 4.1% last month.

That means the question now is not how much longer the employment streak continues, but whether there's any way it could actually get better. And secondly, will major layoffs at one of the state's largest employers ruin the streak?

What is Montana's jobless rate right now?

The 3.3% percent mark in October further extends the employment record streak, which has been continually getting longer for more than 2-years now. The previous streak was back during Governor Brian Schweitzer's administration in 2006 and 2007 when the state stayed at those levels for 15 months.

"We must build on our momentum by helping hardworking taxpayers keep more of what they earn, recruit new investment, and create more good-paying jobs so that every Montanan can reach the American dream.” -Gov. Gianforte

Where are the best Montana jobs?

Montana has added more than 11,000 payroll jobs since the first of the year, with the most growth in healthcare, retail trade, and construction.

With the state hitting a record 580,000 workers last year, everyone will be watching the year-end reports to see if there's room for ever more growth in 2025.

Will this end the streak?

The only cloud on the horizon is last week's layoffs at the Stillwater Mine, which have idled approximately 700 workers. Those numbers are expected to start showing in November and December's numbers.