MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock today
announced Montana’s unemployment rate is at 3.8%. The U.S. unemployment
rate declined by 0.2 percentage points to 4.5% in March.
“More Montanans are at work than ever before in our state’s
history and 4,500 more of friends, families, and neighbors joined the
workforce this first quarter,”
said Governor Bullock. “Montana’s
economy is strong and continues to grow and expand as we continue to
find ways to ensure Montana businesses have a steady pipeline of trained
and skilled employees.”
Payroll employment in Montana surged during the first quarter of 2017,
increasing by nearly 4,800 jobs over the 4th quarter of 2016 on a
seasonally adjusted basis. Industries with the largest gains include
construction, professional and business services, and healthcare. Total
employment levels, which include self-employed and agricultural workers,
indicated a statistically insignificant decline of 278 jobs over the
month. The number of unemployed people and the labor force also
declined, leading to a reduction in the unemployment rate.
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.3%
in March, with large declines in gasoline and wireless telephone
services. Over the last 12 months, the CPI-U has increased by 2.4%. The
index for all items less food and energy, also called core inflation,
posted a rare decline of 0.1% in March. The March decline in core
inflation is the first decline since January 2010.