September 16, 2022

United States Employment Situation

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for the 50 states and DC released at 10:00am on September 16, 2022


Montana Employment Situation



Montana Payroll Employment

Montana lost 500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Montana lost 1,300 jobs. Over the past twelve months, Montana added 11,500 payroll jobs, or 2.3 percent. Montana nonfarm payroll employment had increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 315,000 in August, or rose by 0.2 percent. Over the 12-month period ending with August, nonfarm payrolls rose by 5,840,000 jobs, or 4 percent. Montana is tied for 39th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

During August, Montana’s private-sector lost 200 jobs, or approximately 0 percent. The private-sector in Montana added 700 jobs in the prior month. Over the past twelve months, private-sector payrolls in Montana added 13,000, or 3.2 percent. Montana private-sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

Nationally, private-sector payroll jobs rose by 308,000 jobs in August, or 0.2 percent. Over the past 12 months, the national payroll rose by 5,702,000 jobs in the private sector, or 4.6 percent. Montana is tied for 29th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for a percentage gain in private-sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during August were Financial Activities (800) and Construction (600). The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-1,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,700).

The best performing sectors during the last twelve months were Education and Health Services (4,400) and Professional and Business Services (3,900). The poorest performing sectors during the last twelve months were Other Services tied with Government (-100) and Financial Activities (-600).



Montana Labor Force Statistics

Labor Force Participation

The labor force participation rate in Montana rose to 62.7 percent in August from 62.6 percent in the prior month. At a labor force participation rate of 62.7 percent, Montana is tied for 25th in the nation. The labor force participation rate in Montana rose by 0.3 percentage point from a year earlier. The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Montana was 64.1 percent last occurring in November 2012. The series high for the labor force participation rate in Montana last occurred in April 1990 when the labor force participation rate hit 69 percent. The 10-year low for the labor force participation rate was 62.1 percent , last occurring in January 2022. This also represents the series low for the labor force participation rate in Montana.

The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.3 percentage points over the month to 62.4 percent in August. That rate rose by 0.7 percentage point from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national labor force participation rate was 67.3 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national labor force participation rate was 63.8 percent in October 2012. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 60.2 percent. The series low for the national labor force participation rate was 58.1 percent in December 1954.

Employment-to-Population Ratio

The employment-to-population ratio, or the percentage of the Montana civilian noninstitutionalized population 16 years and older counted as employed, in August fell to 60.9 from 61 percent in the prior month. At 60.9 percent, Montana ranks 25th among state employment-to-population ratios in the nation. The employment-to-population ratio in Montana rose by 0.6 percentage point from a year earlier.

The 10-year high for the employment-to-population ratio in Montana was 61.4 percent last occurring in December 2019. The series high for the employment-to-population ratio in Montana occurred in March 2000 when the employment-to-population ratio hit 65.5 percent. The 10-year low for the employment-to-population ratio was 54.9 percent in April 2020. This also represents the series low for the employment-to-population ratio in Montana.

The national employment-to-population ratio rose by 0.1 percentage point over the month to 60.1 percent in August. That rate rose by 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national employment-to-population rato was 64.7 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national employment-to-population ratio was 61.2 percent in February 2020. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 51.3 percent. The series low for the employment-to-population ratio was 51.3 percent in April 2020.

State employment and unemployment data for September is scheduled for release October 21, 2022. The national employment situation report for September will be released October 07, 2022.