January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
Montana Employment Snapshot
In January, Montana added 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.8 percent. In the prior month, Montana added 1,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Montana added 7,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Montana’s private sector lost 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Montana added 1,600 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Montana fell by 94, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,671.
Montana’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.6 percent in January from 62.7 percent and is tied for 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.
Montana Payroll Employment
Montana added 200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Montana added 1,600 jobs. Montana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Montana lost 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Montana added 1,600 jobs. Montana private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during January were Construction (500) and Professional and Business Services (400).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,300).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (3,200) and Professional and Business Services (2,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (-800) and Manufacturing (-800).
Montana Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Montana fell to 62.6 percent in January from 62.7 percent in the prior month.
Montana is tied for 29th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Montana was 64 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 62 percent in August 2021.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.