Jobless rate worsens in Flathead County
Unemployment in Flathead County is back in double digits at 10.9 percent for October.
The local jobless rate increased by a full percentage point from 9.9 percent in September, according to figures released Tuesday by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.
For October, the county had 38,958 people working and 4,776 unemployed out of a work force of 43,734.
The jobless rate has dipped below 10 percent only twice since October 2009, both times in September at the close of the summer tourist season.
Other Northwest Montana counties also had higher unemployment during October.
From September to October, Lake County’s jobless rate increased from 10 to 10.5 percent; Lincoln County increased from 13 to 13.7 percent and Sanders County increased from 13.3 to 14.4 percent.
Sanders County consistently has had the highest unemployment rate in the state for the past two years.
Meanwhile, unemployment rates in booming oil-rich counties in Eastern Montana are at record low levels, with Richland County posting a 2.8 percent jobless rate in September.
Montana’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percent for the second straight month, ending at 7.6 percent in October. The U.S. unemployment rate also decreased by 0.1 percent to 9 percent.
“Montana’s economy [statewide] has seen slight growth in employment, personal income and gross domestic product,” Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly said in a press release.
Final estimates for the third quarter indicate that total employment, which includes payroll, self-employed, and agricultural workers, gained about 2,200 jobs over the past year.
Total employment hit a low in December 2009 and has been trending upwards during 2011 after little change in 2010. Preliminary estimates for total Montana employment in October indicate continued slow job growth of about 600 jobs.
Payroll employment estimates indicate stronger growth in the past year, posting an increase of about 6,000 jobs from the third quarter of 2010 to the third quarter of 2011.
Strong private-sector growth across most industries has offset job losses in the government sector.
The manufacturing industry continues to experience slow job losses, while the construction industry has stabilized with little employment change in the last two quarters.