Great Falls Area Economic Summary
Updated May 31, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Unemployment rates for the Great Falls area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Great Falls area, 3rd quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,027; Area = $755)
Unemployment rates
4.7
United States
4.1
3.8
Great Falls area
3.3
3.8
Cascade Co.
3.3
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
Apr-16
Apr-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
12-month percent changes in employment
Percent
Great Falls area employment
(numbers in thousands)
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
-1.0
-2.0
-3.0
-4.0
-5.0
Apr-14
Great Falls area
Apr-15
United States
Apr-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
Apr-17
Total nonfarm
Mining, logging, and construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Change from Apr.
Apr. 2017
2016 to Apr. 2017
Number
Percent
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.2
-0.1
0.0
0.0
1.3
0.0
2.7
-2.1
0.0
36.1
7.9
3.1
7.6
4.7
5.8
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
• www.bls.gov/ro6
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, April 2017
10.0
9.3
West region
U.S. city average
8.0
Percent
4.0
8.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
2.9
-1.0
2.2
2.0
0.0
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Telecommunications
3.0
6.0
4.0
12-month percent changes in PPI
1.1
All Items
-2.0
0.5
Food
-3.0
Energy
-4.0
Apr-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
West Region average annual expenditures 2015
Apr-15
Healthcare
$4,221
6.9%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$7,098
11.6%
Food
$7,776
12.7%
Transportation
$9,640
15.7%
Total:
$61,244
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
United
States
$19.15
$23.86
General and operations managers
43.59
58.70
Accountants and auditors
31.79
36.89
Registered nurses
29.34
34.70
Carpenters
20.80
23.24
Construction laborers
19.07
18.22
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
18.83
20.96
Computer user support specialists
16.45
25.53
Medical secretaries
14.93
16.85
Retail salespersons
12.13
13.07
Tellers
12.04
13.49
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
11.22
11.32
9.14
9.89
Fast food cooks
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Private industry, December
2016
Great Falls
area
Total, all occupations
Housing
$20,716
33.8%
Apr-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$11,793
19.3%
Apr-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
Mountain (1)
$29.02
21.07
7.95
1.80
0.93
0.75
2.12
0.96
2.33
(1) Mountain includes AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, and WY.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$32.76
22.83
9.93
2.28
1.17
1.15
2.63
1.31
2.56
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
3.5
12-month percent changes in ECI
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Mar-14
Mountain
Mar-15
United States
Mar-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Mountain-Plains Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/mountain-plains • 816-285-7000
Mar-17