How many jobs were lost in Montana last month?
Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed monthly
Montana lost 100 jobs in January 2026, ranking it 46th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 715 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-100
month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
46th
rank among states in monthly job growth (January 2026)
Montana’s job loss of 100 January 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 600 gain in December 2025.
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Montana gained jobs in 39 out of 60 months. January 2026 had the 19th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2022 (+5,500) while job growth was weakest in February 2025 (-2,400).
There were 100 fewer jobs in January 2026 in Montana than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, February 2021–January 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Montana sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in January 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in January 2026 were construction, health care and social assistance, and retail trade. Construction added 600 jobs, more than the entire economy. Health care and social assistance gained 500 jobs, while retail trade added 300. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The health care and social assistance sector gained 500 jobs during January 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Montana (January 2026)
How does Montana's job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2025, the state has gained an average of 350 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 500, and the smallest since 2024. The 2025 average ranks as the 13th-highest in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 1,000 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 2,200 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, Montana gained an average of 350 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among five metro areas at least partially in Montana during January 2026 ranged from a loss of 300 jobs in the Missoula, MT area to a gain of 0 jobs in the Billings, MT area metro area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Montana
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +0 | |
| 2. | -100 | |
| 3. | -300 | |
| 4. | -200 | |
| 5. | -200 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
