Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Unemployment rate
1990–2024BLS state series.
Employment
Montana had about 553,000 employed residents in 2023, with employment concentrated in healthcare, government, and tourism.
Total nonfarm payroll jobs
1990–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED MTNA).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Employment growth % | 1.5 | 1.8 |
- •Healthcare has overtaken agriculture as one of Montana's largest employment sectors.
Unemployment
Montana's unemployment rate was 3.0% in 2023, below the national average and among the lowest in the country.
Unemployment rate
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average of seasonally adjusted months (FRED MTUR).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate % | 3 | 3.6 |
- •Montana's unemployment rate has stayed below the national average for most of the past decade.
Labor Force
Montana's labor force totaled approximately 570,000 people in 2023, with a labor force participation rate near 63%.
Civilian labor force
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average (FRED MTLF).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Labor force participation % | 63 | 62.5 |
- •Montana's labor force has grown alongside its population influx from out-of-state movers.
Occupations
Healthcare practitioners, retail sales, and food service represent the largest occupational categories in Montana's workforce.
Workers in management, business, science and arts occupations
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, civilian employed 16+, C24010 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare share of occupations % | 14.5 | 13 |
- •Registered nurses are among the fastest-growing occupations in Montana due to an aging population.
Salaries
The average annual wage in Montana was approximately $54,000 in 2023, below the national average due to a service- and agriculture-heavy economy.
Average weekly earnings, private sector
2007–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED SMU30000000500000011).
Average hourly earnings, private sector
2007–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED SMU30000000500000003).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Average annual wage ($1,000s) | 54 | 65.5 |
- •Mining and energy jobs pay some of the highest wages in Montana, well above the state average.
Remote Work
About 12% of Montana workers worked primarily from home in 2023, a share that has grown with an influx of remote professionals relocating from larger cities.
Workers who work from home
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of workers 16+, B08301 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Remote work share % | 12 | 13.8 |
- •Bozeman has become a magnet for remote workers relocating from coastal tech hubs.
Workforce Participation
Montana's labor force participation rate was approximately 63.0% in 2023, slightly above the national rate of 62.5%.
Labor force participation rate
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average (FRED LBSSA30).
| Indicator | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Labor force participation % | 63 | 62.5 |
- •Montana's workforce participation has remained resilient despite its older median age.