Helena, MT - Governor Greg Gianforte today announced that Montana's unemployment rate was at 3.2% for the month of November, continuing its historic stretch of unemployment with the rate remaining at or below 3.4% for 41 consecutive months.

“I ran for governor for two reasons: to create more good-paying jobs and to protect Montana’s way of life,” Gov. Gianforte said. “It’s clear we’re doing both. The American dream is alive and well in Montana - with our pro-jobs, pro-family policies, we remain the last best place for opportunity in the United States.”

The state’s historic stretch of low unemployment continues to break records. The next closest stretch was during 2006 and 2007, when the state’s unemployment rate remained at or below 3.4% for 15 months.

The unemployment rate fell with the total number of payroll jobs increasing by 900 jobs, led by gains in the accommodation and food services industry. Since the start of the year, Montana has added 12,000 jobs.

November marked the fifth consecutive month that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased. The all-items index rose 2.7% for the 12 months ending in November. Core inflation, or the index for all-items less food and energy, rose 0.3% in November for a 12-month increase of 3.3%. The indexes for shelter rose 0.3% in November, accounting for 40% of the increase in the monthly all-items index.