Jobless rate hits 9 percent

Flathead County’s unemployment rate continued an upward climb in November while the statewide jobless rate improved.

The November rate in Flathead County posted at 9 percent, up from 8.3 percent in October. Currently there are 3,825 unemployed workers in the county out of a total work force of 42,479.

The jobless picture was a little worse in neighboring counties last month, too. Lincoln County’s unemployment rate is now the highest in Montana; it increased to 13.3 percent from 11.6 percent in October.

Sanders County likewise saw an increase in unemployment from 11.6 percent in October to 13 percent in November.

Lake County posted an 8.2 percent jobless rate in November, compared to 7.9 percent in October.

But while unemployment is increasing in Northwest Montana, statewide the rate is dropping. In November the state unemployment rate dipped to 5.8 percent from 6 percent in October.

“We are finishing 2012 with good economic news for workers during the holiday season,” Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly said in a press release. “There still is some uncertainty with federal spending levels and the national economic outlook, but Montana’s economy has gained momentum this year and our economic prospects for 2013 are strong. We continued to outperform the nation.”

Montana’s total employment, which includes payroll workers, the self-employed, and agricultural workers, increased by 522 jobs over the month on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Although payroll employment estimates indicated a 1,300-job decline over the month, these preliminary estimates are fairly volatile, Kelly said, and the three-month trend remains positive.

Over-the-month job losses of a thousand each occurred in the government and construction industries, with job gains in most other industries. Even including the preliminary job losses posted this month, construction employment has gained over the last year, adding about 1,600 jobs.