Flathead County jobless rate slightly improved in June

Flathead County’s unemployment rate improved in June, posting at 4.5 percent, compared to 4.8 percent in May.

There are 45,263 employed workers in Flathead County, according to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, up from 43,645 workers the previous month.

The jobless rate in Sanders County held steady at 6.2 percent, while Lincoln County improved slightly, from 7.6 percent to 7.5 percent in June. Of the state’s 56 counties, Sanders County ranked 52nd for the percentage of unemployed people, while Lincoln County ranked 55th.

In Lake County the jobless rate went from 3.6 percent in May to 4 percent in June.

The state’s unemployment rate remained at 3.9 percent in June, half a percentage point below the national average. The U.S. unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.4 percent.

Total employment levels, which include self-employed and agricultural workers, increased by 220 jobs over the month. The number of people in the labor force also increased over the past month, keeping the unemployment rate unchanged. Payroll employment estimates indicate a loss of 600 jobs over the month, but an increase of 6,700 jobs since June 2016.