Montana jobless rate down, Hi-Line rate plunges

Montana's unemployment rate fell slightly to at 5.5 percent in April, down by 0.1 percentage points from March.

The national rate decreased by the same amount, but remains much higher than Montana's unemployment at 7.5 percent.

With the advent of warmer weather, the jobless rate on the Hi-Line took a steep decline in April.

"After a slow start in the first quarter, Montana's employment growth is back on the right track this month, adding about 660 jobs," said Labor Commissioner Pam Bucy. "Montana's unemployment rate continues to fall, and is now within the range that economists consider normal...