Although the statewide unemployment rate continues to decrease, Northwest Montana counties still are struggling in the jobs arena.

Flathead County’s unemployment rate rose to 9 percent in January from 7.8 percent in December. The county has a work force of 43,623 people with 3,934 unemployed workers.

Comparing Flathead’s jobless rate to a year ago is a better indicator of the local employment situation, Flathead Job Service Manager Bill Nelson said. In 2013, Flathead’s unemployment rate was 10.6 percent in January.

“The good news is that the labor force went up,” Nelson said, referring to an increase from 41,854 people in December to 43,623 workers in the latest report. That’s an indicator more people have reactivated their searches for work.

Nelson said he hopes the employment numbers will show improvement in the February report to be released on March 28.

Lincoln County had a sizable increase in the number of unemployed workers; unemployment posted at 18 percent in January, compared to 15.4 percent in December. Sanders County unemployment numbers also worsened from 13.5 percent to 16.1 percent.

Lake County’s unemployment rate increased from 7.9 percent to 9 percent.

Montana’s unemployment rate, however, dropped to 5.3 percent in January, down one-tenth of a percentage point from December due to strong job gains.  Montana’s unemployment rate continues to be lower than the national unemployment rate of 6.6 percent, which is also down one-tenth of a percent since December. 

“Montana started 2014 off strong, posting its highest job gains in years — adding nearly 2,000 jobs in January,” Gov. Steve Bullock said in a press release. “These numbers are more proof that Montana’s economy is on the right track.

“Data revisions suggest Montana’s job growth for 2013 was much stronger than first estimated,” Labor Commissioner Pam Bucy said.  “Montana’s jobs grew by 1.7 percent in 2013, which is faster than our historical average growth.”