Montana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.2 percent in December, marking a full 1 percentage point decrease in 2014.
Gov. Steve Bullock says 2014 likely was one of the strongest years for the state economy.
Montana’s total employment level increased by 829 jobs in December, with 12,633 jobs added since December 2013. The preliminary numbers indicate a job growth of 2.6 percent for 2014.
Payroll employment — which excludes agricultural and self-employed workers — added 3,100 jobs last month, with large gains in the construction industry.
The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent in December.
“Montana’s economy is continuing its momentum and promising a good year in 2015” said Labor Commissioner Pam Bucy. “Although we continue to monitor economic performance for any negative impacts from falling oil prices, employment growth in all other industries continues unabated. We will continue to work with businesses to recruit and develop good workers in this low unemployment environment.”
The Consumer Price Index fell by 0.4 percent last month due to a drop in fuel prices.
In Flathead County, the non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate finished the year at 6.2 percent. That was a slight increase from November, when the unemployment rate was 5.8 percent. The local rate improved 1.4 percent in 2014, with 1,748 job gains.
The unemployment rate in Lake County was 6.1 percent in December. The rate dropped 1.6 percent in 2014 with 17 jobs added over the year.
The jobless rate hit 11.5 percent in Lincoln County in December, an increase of 0.9 percentage point. Lincoln County’s rate fell 4 percent in 2014 with 233 jobs added.
Sanders County had an unemployment rate of 10.8 percent in December. The county’s jobless rate improved 2.8 percent last year.
Click here for a breakdown of the state’s economy at the end of 2014.