Montana Department of Labor and Industry
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry updates area labor market information monthly. Check their website for the latest unemployment rates and industry information.
Montana’s unemployment rate for August 2012 was 21% better than the national average — 6.3% state vs. 8.3% nationally.
Per Capita Personal Income has grown 28% since 2004, one of the fastest growth rates in the nation.
- Bureau of Economic Analysis, August 2012
Employment Growth and Unemployment Rates 2012
| Employment | Flathead County | Montana | U.S. |
| Employment | 39,873 | 481,036 | 142,727,000 |
| Labor Force | 43,897 | 512,541 | 154,998,000 |
| Unemployment | 4,024 | 31,505 | 12,271,000 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2% | 6.3% | 7.9% |
Source: Montana Department of Labor and Industry, May 2012, www.ourfactsyourfuture.com
Employees and Wages by Industry 2012
| Industry | Employment | Avg. Salary |
| Total Industries | 37,396 | $340,328,468 |
| Total Private Industries | 32,266 | $290,164,446 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,634 | $20,182 |
| Administrative and waste services | 4,081 | $24,192 |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 2,279 | $16,613 |
| Construction | 7,317 | $34,923 |
| Educational services | 754 | $24,016 |
| Finance and insurance | 2,563 | $43,268 |
| Forestry, fishing, related activities, and other | 735 | $31,216 |
| Government | 5,149 | $54,326 |
| Health care and social assistance | 6,030 | $47,103 |
| Information | 912 | $38,916 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 189 | $84,249 |
| Manufacturing | 4,054 | $48,228 |
| Mining | 665 | $37,315 |
| Other services, except public administration | 3,640 | $25,070 |
| Professional and technical services | 3,169 | $38,173 |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4,563 | $10,750 |
| Retail trade | 7,940 | $26,602 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,410 | $51,154 |
| Utilities | 220 | $140,495 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,333 | $52,679 |
Sources: Development Alliance, accessed July 2012, www.developmentalliance.com, ourfactsyourfuture.com
