Despite gaining 1,300 jobs in May, Montana's unemployment rate jumped up 0.2 % after a long but slow streak of decline. Montana Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly says the cause for the rise can be traced to more people looking for work than were looking before. The higher number of job openings has led to more people seeking employment and therefor more people putting their names on the unemployment roles.

Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly discusses the unemployment rate:

The western region of the United States had the highest unemployment rate in May at 9.4%. Montana is fairing the rough economy significantly better than unemployment record holder Nevada which is suffering with an unemployment rate of 11 point six percent.

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