Mont. jobless rate remains stable

Montana's jobless rate remained stable in May, while the jobless rate on the Hi-Line decreased.

Statewide, 7.3 percent of the work force was jobless, the state Labor Department announced this morning. That is unchanged from April.

The number of people employed increased slightly, while the number of people looking for work also increased. Montana is doing better than the nation as whole, where the jobless rate is 9.1 percent.

"The rate of job growth slowed slightly this month, but we remain on the track to recovery, " said Montana 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. "

That was, in part, offset by a decline in public sector jobs, the commissioner said.

Across the Hi-Line:

• Hill County's jobless rate declined from 6.1 percent to 5.8 percent. A total of 8,233 people were working in Hill County.
• Blaine County saw a decrease in the jobless rate from 7.0 to 6.2 percent. A total of 2,679 people were working.
• Liberty County saw a slight rise in the jobless rate. It increased from 4.4 percent to 4.7 percent. A total of 673 people were employed in the county.
• The Chouteau County jobless rate was 4.5 percent, the same as in April. A total of 2,496 people have jobs.