Unemployment: Flathead County’s Unemployment Rate Hits New High

Northwest Montana’s unemployment rolls rose precipitously in January to the highest levels since the beginning of the recession. Flathead County’s non-seasonally adjusted 13.2 percent rate eclipsed the previous high set in March 2009 of 12.7 percent, according to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. What’s more, neighboring Sanders and Lincoln counties saw their employment rates creep above 17 percent in the first month of the year, further evidence that the worst recession in a generation hasn’t loosened its grip on the region.

Statewide, the unemployment rate also continued an upward climb with a slight increase in January. The state's unemployment increased to 6.8 percent from 6.7 percent in December – which was up from 6.4 percent in November.

January marks the fifth straight month in which Flathead County’s unemployment rate has risen, following five straight months in which it decreased. But January saw an especially marked increase, rising 2.3 percentage points from December’s 10.9 percent jobless rate

Flathead unemployment rates by month:

January 2010: 13.2%
December 2009: 10.9%
November 2009: 10.1%
October 2009: 9.3%
September 2009: 8.8%
August 2009: 8.7%
July 2009: 9.1%
June 2009: 9.6%
May 2009: 9.7%
April 2009: 10.5%
March 2009: 12.7% (previous high during current economic downturn)
February 2009: 12.2%

See unemployment rates for every Montana county here (.pdf).

The nation's unemployment rate fell from 10 percent to 9.7 percent in January. And Montana Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly says he sees good signs in the nation's economy, but he says employment is lagging behind overall growth.

The agency reported that there was overall job growth in non-agricultural, payroll jobs including construction.