April 2025 | Released May 21, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 5, rose in 20, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 40 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Montana Employment Snapshot

• In April, Montana lost 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.7 percent. In the prior month, Montana added 1,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Montana added 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Montana’s private sector lost 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Montana added 1,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Montana fell by 614, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,959.

• Montana’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.3 percent in April from 62.4 percent and ranks 31st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.

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Montana Payroll Employment

• Montana lost 400 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Montana added 1,200 jobs. Montana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Montana lost 300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Montana added 1,100 jobs. Montana private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 167,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Montana ranks 44th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during April were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities tied with Education and Health Services (600) and Professional and Business Services (300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (1,700) and Education and Health Services (1,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-1,300) and Construction (-1,800).

Montana Labor Force

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 labor force participation rate in Montana fell to 62.3 percent in April from 62.4 percent in the prior month.

• Montana ranks 31st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Montana was 64 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 62 percent in August 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in April.