Department of Numbers

Billings, Montana Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Billings rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 2.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the Montana rate. The unemployment rate in Billings peaked in April 2020 at 11.0% and is now 8.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.1% in March 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.4 percentage points. You can also compare Billings unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Montana 2.7% +0.2 0.0
Billings 2.5% +0.1 +0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Billings, Montana, National

Billings, Montana monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Billings, Montana Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Billings peaked in April 2020 at 9,779. There are now 7,483 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,956 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 340. Billings employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Billings, Montana) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Billings 2,296 +91 +32

Number of Unemployed Persons

Billings, Montana Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Montana
Unemployment Rate
Billings
Unemployment Rate
Billings
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 2.8%
September
2023
3.8% 2.7% 2.5% 2,296
August
2023
3.8% 2.5% 2.4% 2,205
July
2023
3.5% 2.5% 2.3% 2,133
June
2023
3.6% 2.4% 2.3% 2,082
May
2023
3.7% 2.3% 2.2% 2,037
April
2023
3.4% 2.3% 2.1% 1,956
March
2023
3.5% 2.3% 2.1% 1,973
February
2023
3.6% 2.4% 2.2% 2,030
January
2023
3.4% 2.5% 2.3% 2,120
December
2022
3.5% 2.6% 2.4% 2,225
November
2022
3.6% 2.7% 2.4% 2,221

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.