Post by Poor Richard on Mar 17, 2023 13:26:08 GMT -7
Local unemployment rate increases slightly
The Livingston Enterprise reports "The Montana Department of Labor & Industry released unemployment figures for January showing the unemployment rate for Park County increased from 3% in December 2022 to 3.2% in January 2023.
The number of people in Park County considered unemployed by the state increased from 289 to 317; as did the number of employed people — from 9,500 to 9,581, according to the figures.
Over the same period, Sweet Grass County’s unemployment rate increased from 2.1% to 2.5%; Gallatin County’s rate increased from 1.8% to 1.9%; and Meagher County’s rate increased from 2.1 to 2.4%, according to the state. Statewide unemployment declined from 2.6% to 2.5% from December to January.
However, county-level data is not adjusted for seasonality, whereas the statewide data is seasonally adjusted, according to John Elizandro, Montana Department of Labor & Industry chief of staff.
“The Department typically recommends comparing county-level data — which usually has a small sample size — to previous-year levels,” Elizandro wrote in an email. “Month-to-month changes in seasonally-unadjusted data can fluctuate and isn’t always indicative of broader trends.”
County-level unemployment figures for 2018-2022 should be available soon, Elizandro said.
Unemployment figures are based on data from surveys and unemployment claims recorded during the monthly reference week, which is usually the week including the 12th day of each month, according to a Montana Labor Market Information factsheet at lmi.mt.gov. Statistics are an estimate of persons by place of residence, not jobs or where a person works. In order to be considered unemployed, an individual must have had no employment during the reference week, been available for work, and have made an effort to find employment for four weeks leading up to the reference week.
Statewide, total non-farm payroll jobs increased 1,500 from December to January, for a total of 517,100 jobs. Over the same period, trade, transportation and utilities jobs decreased by 400 jobs; government jobs increased by 200; private education and health services increased by 100; leisure and hospitality jobs increased by 100; and professional and business services decreased by 400. Construction jobs increased by 1,500 over this period."
The number of people in Park County considered unemployed by the state increased from 289 to 317; as did the number of employed people — from 9,500 to 9,581, according to the figures.
Over the same period, Sweet Grass County’s unemployment rate increased from 2.1% to 2.5%; Gallatin County’s rate increased from 1.8% to 1.9%; and Meagher County’s rate increased from 2.1 to 2.4%, according to the state. Statewide unemployment declined from 2.6% to 2.5% from December to January.
However, county-level data is not adjusted for seasonality, whereas the statewide data is seasonally adjusted, according to John Elizandro, Montana Department of Labor & Industry chief of staff.
“The Department typically recommends comparing county-level data — which usually has a small sample size — to previous-year levels,” Elizandro wrote in an email. “Month-to-month changes in seasonally-unadjusted data can fluctuate and isn’t always indicative of broader trends.”
County-level unemployment figures for 2018-2022 should be available soon, Elizandro said.
Unemployment figures are based on data from surveys and unemployment claims recorded during the monthly reference week, which is usually the week including the 12th day of each month, according to a Montana Labor Market Information factsheet at lmi.mt.gov. Statistics are an estimate of persons by place of residence, not jobs or where a person works. In order to be considered unemployed, an individual must have had no employment during the reference week, been available for work, and have made an effort to find employment for four weeks leading up to the reference week.
Statewide, total non-farm payroll jobs increased 1,500 from December to January, for a total of 517,100 jobs. Over the same period, trade, transportation and utilities jobs decreased by 400 jobs; government jobs increased by 200; private education and health services increased by 100; leisure and hospitality jobs increased by 100; and professional and business services decreased by 400. Construction jobs increased by 1,500 over this period."