Flathead jobless rate inches upward

The number of unemployed people in Northwest Montana increased slightly in March, the state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday.

Flathead County’s unemployment rate bumped up to 6.7 percent last month, up from 6.4 percent in February. There are 42,534 people in the county’s workforce, an increase of 736 workers over this time last year.

Sanders County posted 9.5 percent unemployment, up from 8.9 percent in February. Lincoln County also was up, at 10.5 percent compared to 10 percent the previous month.

Lake County typically has one of the lowest jobless rates in Northwest Montana. Its unemployment rate increased from 5.2 percent in February to 5.6 percent last month.

Montana’s unemployment rate is at 3.8 percent, lower than the national average. The U.S. unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage points to 4.5 percent in March.

“More Montanans are at work than ever before in our state’s history and 4,500 more of friends, families, and neighbors joined the workforce this first quarter,” Gov. Steve Bullock said in a press release. “Montana’s economy is strong and continues to grow and expand as we continue to find ways to ensure Montana businesses have a steady pipeline of trained and skilled employees.”

Payroll employment in Montana surged during the first quarter of 2017, increasing by nearly 4,800 jobs over the fourth quarter of 2016 on a seasonally adjusted basis. Industries with the largest gains include construction, professional and business services, and health care.

Total employment levels, which include self-employed and agricultural workers, indicated a statistically insignificant decline of 278 jobs over the month, the state labor department reported. The number of unemployed people and the labor force also declined, leading to a reduction in the unemployment rate.