Flathead County’s unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent in July — the lowest number in almost five years.

In August 2008, the jobless rate was 4.8 percent. It moved to 5.0 percent in September 2008 and grew to 6.2 percent in October 2008.

July’s number is the lowest since then. 

The state’s overall unemployment rate dropped to 5.3 percent in July, down 0.1 percentage point from June.

The rate was 7 percent in both May and June. A year ago, the county was at 7.9 percent, so even with seasonal adjustments, the drop is a significant one. 

Bill Nelson, manager of the Flathead Job Service, said that the drop is due to a number of “small things,” with many businesses doing better. And it doesn’t even count jobs that will be provided by one of the newest big employers in the valley, Cabela’s, which is hiring around 125 people for its opening this fall.

Job orders are up to numbers that the Flathead Job Service hasn’t seen in years, Nelson said.

“We topped 500 last week, and dropped to about 475 as of today,” he said Monday. “During the winter of 2009, we were down to maybe 40 or 50 job orders.”

Even better news for job hunters is that each order can mean more than one job.

“If Cabela’s asks for 125 customer service workers, then that’s one order,” Nelson said.  

He said that there still might be a skills gap for certain technical positions, but “there should be jobs for everyone out there.” 

The national unemployment rate has declined by 0.2 percentage points to 7.4 percent. Montana’s unemployment rate remains a full two percentage points below the national average.

“Montana’s unemployment rate is continuing its downward trend as employers continue to feel more confident in our economy,” Labor Commissioner Pam Bucy said in a news release. “Despite job growth being slower than last year, our economy is gaining ground and getting stronger every day.”

Payroll employment added roughly 900 jobs in July in Montana. The leisure and hospitality sector has posted job gains during the last few months, construction employment remains fairly stable and government employment continues to decline. Construction employment has not yet fully recovered since the recession, although other indicators suggest a strengthening of the national housing market. 

Total employment estimates, which include payroll employment plus the self-employed, indicate a small employment decline of 700 jobs.

The decline in the state unemployment rate was primarily the result of nearly 1,000 Montanans leaving the labor force, bringing the labor force participation rate to 63.6 percent. The labor force includes those who are working or looking for work. 

Labor force participation rates in both the United States and Montana declined during the recession. During the recovery, the U.S. participation rate has continued to decline, but Montana’s labor force participation rate has been on an upswing since 2011 as workers responded to positive job growth. 

In 2013, however, the trend has reversed, with Montanans leaving the labor force. There are multiple reasons why workers may choose to leave the labor force, including retirements, family responsibilities, obtaining schooling, insufficient job opportunities or low wages.

Inflation levels remain fairly low. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased by 0.2 percent in July. Core inflation, measured by the all items less food and energy index, rose by 0.2 percent.