HELENA — Montana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5.8 percent in November, the first time it has been below 6 percent since May 2009.
The state’s unemployment rate was 6 percent in October.
Flathead County’s non-seasonally adjusted rate rose to 9 percent from 8.3 percent last month. Last month’s rate increased from 7.4 percent in September. Flathead has the seventh highest unemployment rate out of 56 counties. Lincoln County has the highest at 13.3 percent. Glacier County is third at 12.5 percent.
Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly says Montana’s economy has gained momentum this year and the state’s economic prospects for 2013 are strong. He notes there is still some uncertainty with federal spending levels and the national economic outlook, but Montana continues to outperform the nation.
Montana’s total employment, which includes payroll workers, the self-employed and agricultural workers, increased by 522 jobs in November, on a seasonally adjusted basis.
The national unemployment rate fell from 7.9 percent in October to 7.7 percent in November.