HELENA — Montana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points in April to 3.6%, which is the same as the national unemployment rate.
The state Labor Department says a tight labor market continues to constrain job growth. The agency estimated Montana gained 232 total jobs in April, which includes payroll, self-employed and agricultural jobs.
Job gains in the professional and business services and construction industries were offset by declines in the retail trade and seasonal recreation industries. A tight labor market continues to constrain job growth.
Increasing gasoline prices fueled a 0.3% increase in the Consumer Price Index in April.