More Montanans working, jobless rate stable

The number of Montanans with jobs increased last month, though the jobless rate remained stable at 7.4 percent.

State Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly said this morning that more people, buoyed by the brighter economic picture are entering the job market.

"The number of Montanans who are working increased by 1,300 jobs this month, which is the largest over-the-month job growth since the recession started, " Kelly said. "Nearly every industry posted job gains. However, the unemployment rate remained constant because over 1,100 Montanans have re-entered the labor force and started looking for work in March. Overall, there were 1,300 more paychecks this past month. "

In Hill County, the jobless rate declined, though there were modest increases in other Hi-Line counties.

The statistics by county:

• The jobless rate declined in Hill County from 6.6 percent to 6.5 percent. A total of 567 people were out of work.
• In Blaine County, the jobless rate went up from 6.9 percent to 7.2 percent.

In all, 196 people were unemployed.

• Liberty County's rate went up from 4.6 percent to 4.9 percent. Thirty-three people were jobless.
• The jobless rate increased from 5.2 percent to 5.3 percent in Choteau County.