Montana's Unemployment Rate Below 3% Again, How Do We Compare?

Once again, Montana's unemployment rate is below 3 percent in October, marking the 23rd consecutive month according to Montana.gov's newsroom.

Governor Greg Gianforte announced Montana reached its 23rd consecutive month of unemployment below 3%. Prior to the governor taking office, Montana's unemployment rate had fallen below 3% only three times since record-keeping began 50 years ago. - Montana.Gov

The same release stated Montana has created more than 8,400 jobs in the calendar year.

Unemployment rates broken down by counties

The statewide unemployment rate stands at 2.4%, but 22 counties came in even better than the statewide average. Fallon County owns the title of "lowest unemployment rate" in Montana at 1.7%. Daniels and Gallatin Counties are tied for 2nd with a 1.8% rate and McCone and Valley Counties are tied for 4th with a 1.9% rate.

Missoula County checked in 27th in the state with a 2.4% unemployment rate.

The highest unemployment rate resides in Mineral County where the unemployment rate is 4%, the only county in the state with a rate in the 4 range. Lincoln, Glacier, Petroleum and Big Horn Counties round out the top 5 of highest unemployment rates.

Rocky Boy's Reservation has the overall highest unemployment rate in the state checking in at 8.3%.

How does Montana's rate compare to the rest of the country?

Montana's September rate was at 2.7% putting it well within the top half of the country. The Treasure State ranks 12th in the country.

Maryland has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation checking in at 1.6%, followed by our neighbors to the East North and South Dakota and Vermont all tied for 2nd lowest rate at 1.9%.

Nevada has the highest unemployment rate at 5.4%. The District of Columbia is 50th followed by California, New Jersey and Illinois rounding out the bottom 5.