Jobless rate drops to 10.2 percent

Flathead County’s unemployment rate continued to improve in August, posting at 10.2 percent, down slightly from 10.4 percent in July.

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry said the county had a labor force of 45,470 workers, of which 4,636 were unemployed last month.

Lincoln County’s unemployment rate improved slightly, too, from 14.6 percent in July to 14.1 percent in August. Lake County posted a 10.9 percent unemployment rate in August, identical to July’s rate.

Sanders County remained the county with the highest unemployment, at 14.7 percent in August, compared to 14.8 percent in July.

Statewide the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percent, to 7.8 percent in August.

“After job gains in the first half of 2011, Montana’s economy slowed in the third quarter and shed some of the jobs added earlier in the year,” said Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly. “Montana’s economic recovery continues, but job growth is slow and unsteady.”

Total employment estimates that include payroll, self-employed and agricultural workers indicate a very small job loss of approximately 380 jobs. Payroll employment estimates indicate a job loss of 1,900 jobs. Payroll employment estimates are often more volatile than the total employment estimates.