Jobless rate continues slide toward single digits

After stalling at 10.7 percent in February and March, Flathead County’s unemployment rate improved to 10 percent in April.

There are 4,339 people without work in Flathead County, according to state labor statistics, with a total of 39,210 people employed. It’s the best report since September 2011 when the jobless rate stood at 9.9 percent.

Jobless numbers also improved in surrounding counties.

Lincoln County posted 14.5 percent unemployment during April, compared to 16.6 percent in March. Sanders County’s rate improved from 16.5 percent in March to 14.5 percent in April.

Lake County, which has had a slightly better job scenario than other Northwest Montana counties, had 8.9 percent unemployment in April, compared to 10.2 percent in March.

Statewide, the unemployment rate improved slightly to 6.1 percent, from 6.2 percent in March.

“Over the past ten months, the number of people employed in Montana has continued to increase without interruption” Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly said in a press release.  “Although payroll employment growth remains slow, I am confident about Montana’s current and future economic situation.”

For the month of April, seasonally adjusted payroll employment estimates increased slightly, with a gain of approximately 300 jobs over the previous month.

Total employment estimates, which include agriculture and self-employed workers, also showed positive employment gains, with 1,050 more people employed in April.