Flathead County’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 8.4 percent in April, a full percentage point lower than a month earlier. Meanwhile, the statewide seasonally adjusted jobless rate ticked down to 5.5 percent from 5.6 percent in March.
Labor Commissioner Pam Bucy says Montana added about 660 jobs in April.
The agency reported Montana’s average wage increased by 3.6 percent in 2012, with payroll employment growth of 1.8 percent. The employment and wage growth are the highest since 2007.
Montana’s average annual wage was $37,100 in 2012, up from $35,800 in 2011. Oil and gas extraction, health care and accommodation and food services experienced rapid employment growth last year.
Flathead’s jobless rate is its lowest in six months and 1.6 percentage points lower than in April 2012.
The national unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in April.
Here are the jobless rates for every Montana county.
Flathead unemployment rates by month:
April 2013: 8.4%
March 2013: 9.4%
February 2013: 9.8%
January 2013: 10.6%
December 2012: 9.1%
November 2012: 9%
October 2012: 8.3%
September 2012: 7.4%
August 2012: 7.9%
July 2012: 7.9%
June 2012: 8.5%
May 2012: 9.2%
April 2012: 10%