County jobless rate 14.9 percent; state figures level

Montana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate may have remained steady in May, but that was of little solace for the nearly 1,200 jobless in Lincoln County who reported in May.

According to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, the jobless rate for the 8,015 potential workforce in Lincoln County remains at 14.9 percent, the highest in the state.

The agency reports for May there are 6,818 residents in Lincoln County working and nearly another 1,200 — 1,197 to be exact — who are seeking work.

Lincoln County jobless rate remains the highest among Montana’s 56 counties at 14.9 percent, only outpacing Sanders County at 14.2.

Furthermore, officials contend the area jobless rate actually is higher than the nearly 15 percent, as many of the unemployed have simply stopped reporting their inability to find work.

Meanwhile, the Montana jobless rate remained steady in May at 7.3 percent despite modest job gains.  The unemployment rate has decreased from 7.5 percent at the start of the year.  

The U.S. unemployment rate also was constant at 9.1 percent with small gains in job levels.

“The rate of job growth slowed slightly this month, but we remain on the track to recovery,” said Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly.

“The trend of private sector job growth that we have seen throughout the last year continues this month, with more than 1,100 private sector jobs added. ”

The estimate for the total number of Montanans who are working, including agricultural, payroll, and self-employed workers, increased by 1,088 jobs.  Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 500 over the month, with job losses in the public sector cancelling out some of the 1,100 private sector job gain.   

The seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased by 0.2 percent in May, despite a decrease in the energy index.  

  Gasoline prices decreased for the first time since last June.  The index for all items less food and energy (also called core inflation) increased by 0.3 percent, the largest increase since July 2008.