Department of Numbers

Missoula, Montana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Missoula rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Montana rate. The unemployment rate in Missoula peaked in April 2020 at 13.7% and is now 10.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.2% in March 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.8 percentage points. You can also compare Missoula unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Montana 3.0% +0.2 +0.3
Missoula 3.0% +0.1 +0.5
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Missoula, Montana, National

Missoula, Montana monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Missoula, Montana Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Missoula peaked in April 2020 at 8,822. There are now 6,743 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,525 in March 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 554. Missoula employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Missoula, Montana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Missoula 2,079 +81 +384

Number of Unemployed Persons

Missoula, Montana Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Montana
Unemployment Rate
Missoula
Unemployment Rate
Missoula
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.0% 3.0% 2,079
October
2023
3.8% 2.8% 2.9% 1,998
September
2023
3.8% 2.7% 2.7% 1,872
August
2023
3.8% 2.5% 2.6% 1,793
July
2023
3.5% 2.5% 2.5% 1,720
June
2023
3.6% 2.4% 2.4% 1,662
May
2023
3.7% 2.3% 2.4% 1,605
April
2023
3.4% 2.3% 2.2% 1,527
March
2023
3.5% 2.3% 2.2% 1,525
February
2023
3.6% 2.4% 2.3% 1,555
January
2023
3.4% 2.5% 2.4% 1,614

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.