Counties with the highest unemployment in Montana

Written by:
Stacker
May 3, 2024
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Counties with the highest unemployment in Montana

While today's unemployment rates are significantly lower than the COVID-19 pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, the fear of job losses remains as workers stare down an uncertain economic future.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Montana using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in March 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Experts have mixed views of a potential recession. The return of student loan payments, continually high gas prices, persistent inflation, and insurance price escalations are just a few of the factors that could limit consumer spending and potentially prompt another recession.

The last economic recession before the pandemic—the Great Recession of 2007-09—sent unemployment rates up to 10% as of October 2009, and a full recovery took years.

But as of April 2024, the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.9%—up slightly from the previous month. Regional and state employment varies widely depending on local economies. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2% in North Dakota to 5.3% in California.

Read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Montana.

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Teresa Otto // Shutterstock

#56. Carter County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 726 people (12 unemployed)

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George Sc // Shutterstock

#55. Fallon County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,627 people (27 unemployed)

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#54. Liberty County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 1.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,072 people (19 unemployed)

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#53. Daniels County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 890 people (18 unemployed)

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#52. Powder River County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,049 people (22 unemployed)

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#51. McCone County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,023 people (23 unemployed)

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#50. Gallatin County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.2%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 80,970 people (1,776 unemployed)

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Benjamin Clapp // Shutterstock

#49. Treasure County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 349 people (8 unemployed)

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#48. Sweet Grass County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 1,931 people (45 unemployed)

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#47. Stillwater County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,373 people (131 unemployed)

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#46. Hill County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,609 people (179 unemployed)

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#45. Sheridan County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,759 people (44 unemployed)

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#44. Dawson County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,315 people (108 unemployed)

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#43. Beaverhead County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,071 people (127 unemployed)

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#42. Prairie County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 686 people (18 unemployed)

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#41. Toole County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,066 people (53 unemployed)

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#40. Chouteau County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,537 people (72 unemployed)

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#39. Lewis and Clark County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 38,641 people (1,085 unemployed)

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#38. Yellowstone County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 88,102 people (2,473 unemployed)

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#37. Meagher County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 1,072 people (31 unemployed)

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#36. Madison County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,232 people (152 unemployed)

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#35. Deer Lodge County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,436 people (159 unemployed)

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#34. Richland County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,586 people (163 unemployed)

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#33. Carbon County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,923 people (169 unemployed)

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Laurens Hoddenbagh // Shutterstock

#32. Valley County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,931 people (118 unemployed)

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#31. Custer County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,342 people (189 unemployed)

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#30. Judith Basin County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 1,012 people (31 unemployed)

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Ian William Hromada // Shutterstock

#29. Teton County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 2,816 people (86 unemployed)

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#28. Cascade County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 39,520 people (1,212 unemployed)

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#27. Musselshell County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,428 people (81 unemployed)

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#26. Rosebud County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 3,555 people (116 unemployed)

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#25. Jefferson County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,147 people (201 unemployed)

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#24. Missoula County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 68,924 people (2,281 unemployed)

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Zack Frank // Shutterstock

#23. Pondera County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,750 people (94 unemployed)

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TylorOlsen // Shutterstock

#22. Ravalli County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,486 people (769 unemployed)

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#21. Wibaux County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 430 people (15 unemployed)

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#20. Park County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,327 people (362 unemployed)

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#19. Fergus County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,813 people (217 unemployed)

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#18. Golden Valley County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 392 people (15 unemployed)

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#17. Broadwater County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,874 people (108 unemployed)

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#16. Powell County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,874 people (109 unemployed)

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Christopher Boswell // Shutterstock

#15. Silver Bow County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 18,013 people (678 unemployed)

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#14. Petroleum County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 291 people (12 unemployed)

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#13. Blaine County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,237 people (92 unemployed)

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#12. Roosevelt County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: No change
- Total labor force: 4,251 people (176 unemployed)

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#11. Garfield County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 784 people (34 unemployed)

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#10. Lake County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,455 people (616 unemployed)

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#9. Flathead County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 54,163 people (2,302 unemployed)

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#8. Big Horn County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,556 people (217 unemployed)

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#7. Granite County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,778 people (89 unemployed)

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#6. Phillips County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,786 people (90 unemployed)

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#5. Wheatland County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 794 people (44 unemployed)

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Dirk Wierenga // Shutterstock

#4. Glacier County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,670 people (321 unemployed)

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Drew Halverson // Shutterstock

#3. Sanders County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,573 people (379 unemployed)

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Danita Delimont // Shutterstock

#2. Mineral County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.1%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,867 people (133 unemployed)

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melissamn // Shutterstock

#1. Lincoln County

- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,749 people (653 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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