Jobless rate declines again in Montana

Montana’s jobless rate went down to 3.9 percent in May, according to figures from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

The nationwide jobless rate of 5.6 percent is a .1 percent increase over April.

The state added about 1,500 jobs over the past month and nearly 12,000 over the past year.

On the Hi-Line, the picture looked even better. The jobless rates declined in Hill, Blaine, Chouteau and Liberty counties.

While the jobless rate was higher on the Hi-Line’s Native reservations, both registered sharp job gains.

The average wage increased 3.5 percent over the past year, bringing average wage to $38,875, the Labor Department said.

“Our strong growth and low unemployment are driving up wages, meaning more Montanas are working and putting more money in their pockets on payday,” Gov. Steve Bullock said.

The 2015 growth has pushed the number of Montana jobs over the half-million mark for the first time in history.

Inflation was a 1.6 percent during the last year, Bullock said.

Blaine and Chouteau counties reported 2.2 unemployment rates, bested only by counties in the Bakken oil region.

Sheridan County on the North Dakota border registered a 1.5 percent jobless rate, the lowest in the state.

Glacier County had an 8 percent rate, the state’s highest.

For the first time, jobless rates were compiled on a monthly basis for the reservations.

Hi-Line jobless rates:

• Chouteau County, 2.2 percent, down 0.7 percent from last May.

• Liberty County, 2.2 percent, down 0.8 percent from last year.

• Hill County, 3.4 percent, down 1.9 percentage points from last year.

• Blaine County, 3.7 percent a 1.6 percentage point decrease.

• Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, 8.9 percent, a 2.9 percentage point decline.

• Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, 9.6 percent, down 4.5 percentage points.