December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Montana Employment Snapshot

• In December, Montana added 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.1 percent. In the prior month, Montana added 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Montana added 12,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Montana is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Montana’s private sector added 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Montana remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Montana rose by 23, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,709.

• Montana’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.6 percent in December 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 0.4 percentage points.

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Montana Payroll Employment

• Montana added 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Montana added 600 jobs. Montana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Montana is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Montana added 300 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Montana remained unchanged with 0 jobs. Montana private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Montana ranks 5th 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 December were Leisure and Hospitality (600) and Education and Health Services (100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (4,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (3,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-300).

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 December 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 62.2 percent occurring in September 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.