Flathead County’s unemployment rate held steady in March at 10.7 percent, the same as February.
The county’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate hovered above 10 percent for the sixth straight month but has been consistently lower than during the same stretch of 2011.
Montana’s statewide seasonally adjusted rate also remained unchanged in March at 6.2 percent, far below the national average of 8.2 percent. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry says the state’s jobless rate has fallen .8 percent since last August.
Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly says job growth has likely slowed because of increased oil and gas prices, but he is positive about continued job growth.
Lincoln and Sanders counties continue to have the highest unemployment rates in the state at 16.6 and 16.5 respectively. To see the labor department’s full report with all of the counties’ jobless rates, click here.
Flathead unemployment rates by month:
March 2012: 10.7%
February 2012: 10.7%
January 2012: 11.5%
December 2011: 10.6%
November 2011: 10.6%
October 2011: 10.9%
September 2011: 9.9%
August 2011: 10.2%
July 2011: 10.4%
June 2011: 11.4%
May 2011: 11.2%
April 2011: 12.7%
March 2011: 13.1%