February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 29.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 23. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Alaska.

Montana Employment Snapshot

• In February, Montana lost 2,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.8 percent. In the prior month, Montana lost 200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Montana added 3,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 30th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Montana’s private sector lost 1,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Montana lost 400 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Montana fell by 716, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,420.

• Montana’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.5 percent in February from 62.6 percent and is tied for 30th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Montana Payroll Employment

• Montana lost 2,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Montana lost 200 jobs. Montana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 30th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Montana lost 1,900 private sector jobs, or -0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Montana lost 400 jobs. Montana private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 25th 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 February were Professional and Business Services (300) and Other Services (200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-600) and Construction (-1,500).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (3,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (2,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-1,100) and Construction (-2,400).

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 62.5 percent in February from 62.6 percent in the prior month.

• Montana is tied for 30th 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 fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.