Montana’s Latest Economic Numbers Look Really Good

Montana's Workforce Hits Record High

These days, I think we all could use a bit of good news.

Turns out Montana's workforce just hit a record high, and a lot of the other numbers are looking pretty good too.

Montana's Wage Growth Is Giving Workers Another Reason to Feel Good

NBC Montana is reporting that nearly 578,000 people were part of Montana's labor force in 2025, making it the highest level ever recorded in the state.

Nearly 60% of Montanans were employed last year, which puts the state close to its highest employment level in history.

The hits don't stop when it comes to the unemployment rate either. Montana averaged just 3.3% unemployment last year, giving the Treasure State one of the lowest rates in the entire country.

And then there are our paychecks.

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Montana Is Among America's Fastest-Growing State Economies

The average annual wage in Montana climbed to just over $62,000, putting the state second in the nation for wage growth. Even better, wages have outpaced inflation for three straight years.

There's even more encouraging news for people working in Montana.

The state's economy also grew last year, with our real gross domestic product increasing by 2.2%. Since 2022, Montana's economy has grown an average of 3.5% per year, putting Big Sky Country among the fastest-growing state economies in America.

Sure, there are plenty of economic challenges ahead of us, but these latest numbers give us something to feel pretty good about. More people are working, unemployment remains low, and Montana wages are continuing to grow faster than inflation.

If I were Montana's parent, I'd hang this report card on the fridge.