May 2025 | Released June 24, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 24.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 37 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Connecticut.

Montana Employment Snapshot

• In May, Montana added 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.8 percent. In the prior month, Montana added 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Montana added 1,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Montana’s private sector added 2,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Montana added 800 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Montana fell by 752, and over the past 12 months it fell by 4,158.

• Montana’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.2 percent in May from 62.3 percent and is tied for 31st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.

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Montana Payroll Employment

• Montana added 2,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Montana added 600 jobs. Montana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Montana added 2,200 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Montana added 800 jobs. Montana private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 35th 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 May were Construction (1,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Education and Health Services tied with Government (-200) and Other Services (-400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (1,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities tied with Professional and Business Services (1,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Other Services (-900) and Manufacturing (-1,200).

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 62.2 percent in May from 62.3 percent in the prior month.

• Montana is tied for 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 fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.