Montana Hits “Perfect Unemployment Rate,” Says State Economist

Montana's unemployment rate is on a slow-but-steady downward trend, and shaved off another 0.2 percent during the month of May.

"Montana's unemployment rate dropped again this month to 4.6 percent, which is a really nice number, right where we think of the 'perfect unemployment rate,' if there can be such a thing," said Montana Department of Labor and Industry Senior Economist Barbara Wagner. "

Wagner says Missoula county has added about 1,700 jobs over the past year and Ravalli county is up 500 jobs. Job gains have been in nearly every sector across the state, with the one major exception being government jobs, which have taken a hit after cut backs and fiscal cliff decisions in D.C.

Montana's unemployment rate is well below the national average of 6.3 percent.