Counties in Montana by covered employment (QCEW)

Yellowstone County had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 56 counties in 2015, at 80,568 jobs. Petroleum County had the lowest, at 91 jobs. The median was 2,467 jobs and the figure for Montana was 448,688 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest80,568Yellowstone County
Median2,46756 counties
Montana448,688History

Map of counties, 2015

Beaverhead County: 3,719 jobsBig Horn County: 4,681 jobsBlaine County: 1,466 jobsBroadwater County: 1,317 jobsCarbon County: 2,606 jobsCarter County: 265 jobsCascade County: 34,915 jobsChouteau County: 1,155 jobsCuster County: 5,463 jobsDaniels County: 611 jobsDawson County: 3,739 jobsDeer Lodge County: 3,273 jobsFallon County: 1,550 jobsFergus County: 4,365 jobsFlathead County: 40,689 jobsGallatin County: 52,059 jobsGarfield County: 285 jobsGlacier County: 4,166 jobsGolden Valley County: 182 jobsGranite County: 829 jobsHill County: 6,882 jobsJefferson County: 2,547 jobsJudith Basin County: 505 jobsLake County: 8,511 jobsLewis and Clark County: 35,429 jobsLiberty County: 500 jobsLincoln County: 5,135 jobsMcCone County: 562 jobsMadison County: 3,801 jobsMeagher County: 634 jobsMineral County: 1,137 jobsMissoula County: 57,337 jobsMusselshell County: 1,330 jobsPark County: 5,693 jobsPetroleum County: 91 jobsPhillips County: 1,260 jobsPondera County: 1,746 jobsPowder River County: 527 jobsPowell County: 2,387 jobsPrairie County: 305 jobsRavalli County: 11,238 jobsRichland County: 6,329 jobsRoosevelt County: 3,695 jobsRosebud County: 4,125 jobsSanders County: 2,727 jobsSheridan County: 1,522 jobsSilver Bow County: 15,732 jobsStillwater County: 3,184 jobsSweet Grass County: 1,490 jobsTeton County: 1,782 jobsToole County: 1,979 jobsTreasure County: 188 jobsValley County: 3,202 jobsWheatland County: 568 jobsWibaux County: 314 jobsYellowstone County: 80,568 jobs
  • Under 500
  • 500 to 1,300
  • 1,300 to 2,500
  • 2,500 to 3,800
  • 3,800 to 6,800
  • 6,800 and over
jobs, 2015. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2015

Yellowstone County: 80,568 jobsYellowstone County80,568Missoula County: 57,337 jobsMissoula County57,337Gallatin County: 52,059 jobsGallatin County52,059Flathead County: 40,689 jobsFlathead County40,689Lewis and Clark County: 35,429 jobsLewis and Clark County35,429Cascade County: 34,915 jobsCascade County34,915Silver Bow County: 15,732 jobsSilver Bow County15,732Ravalli County: 11,238 jobsRavalli County11,238Lake County: 8,511 jobsLake County8,511Hill County: 6,882 jobsHill County6,882Richland County: 6,329 jobsRichland County6,329Park County: 5,693 jobsPark County5,693Custer County: 5,463 jobsCuster County5,463Lincoln County: 5,135 jobsLincoln County5,135Big Horn County: 4,681 jobsBig Horn County4,681Fergus County: 4,365 jobsFergus County4,365Glacier County: 4,166 jobsGlacier County4,166Rosebud County: 4,125 jobsRosebud County4,125Madison County: 3,801 jobsMadison County3,801Dawson County: 3,739 jobsDawson County3,739Beaverhead County: 3,719 jobsBeaverhead County3,719Roosevelt County: 3,695 jobsRoosevelt County3,695Deer Lodge County: 3,273 jobsDeer Lodge County3,273Valley County: 3,202 jobsValley County3,202Stillwater County: 3,184 jobsStillwater County3,184Sanders County: 2,727 jobsSanders County2,727Carbon County: 2,606 jobsCarbon County2,606Jefferson County: 2,547 jobsJefferson County2,547Powell County: 2,387 jobsPowell County2,387Toole County: 1,979 jobsToole County1,979Teton County: 1,782 jobsTeton County1,782Pondera County: 1,746 jobsPondera County1,746Fallon County: 1,550 jobsFallon County1,550Sheridan County: 1,522 jobsSheridan County1,522Sweet Grass County: 1,490 jobsSweet Grass County1,490Blaine County: 1,466 jobsBlaine County1,466Musselshell County: 1,330 jobsMusselshell County1,330Broadwater County: 1,317 jobsBroadwater County1,317Phillips County: 1,260 jobsPhillips County1,260Chouteau County: 1,155 jobsChouteau County1,155Mineral County: 1,137 jobsMineral County1,137Granite County: 829 jobsGranite County829Meagher County: 634 jobsMeagher County634Daniels County: 611 jobsDaniels County611Wheatland County: 568 jobsWheatland County568McCone County: 562 jobsMcCone County562Powder River County: 527 jobsPowder River County527Judith Basin County: 505 jobsJudith Basin County505Liberty County: 500 jobsLiberty County500Wibaux County: 314 jobsWibaux County314Prairie County: 305 jobsPrairie County305Garfield County: 285 jobsGarfield County285Carter County: 265 jobsCarter County265Treasure County: 188 jobsTreasure County188Golden Valley County: 182 jobsGolden Valley County182Petroleum County: 91 jobsPetroleum County91Yellowstone County: 80,568 jobsYellowstone County80,568Missoula County: 57,337 jobsMissoula County57,337Gallatin County: 52,059 jobsGallatin County52,059Flathead County: 40,689 jobsFlathead County40,689Lewis and Clark County: 35,429 jobsLewis and Clark County35,429Cascade County: 34,915 jobsCascade County34,915Silver Bow County: 15,732 jobsSilver Bow County15,732Ravalli County: 11,238 jobsRavalli County11,238Lake County: 8,511 jobsLake County8,511Hill County: 6,882 jobsHill County6,882Richland County: 6,329 jobsRichland County6,329Park County: 5,693 jobsPark County5,693Custer County: 5,463 jobsCuster County5,463Lincoln County: 5,135 jobsLincoln County5,135Big Horn County: 4,681 jobsBig Horn County4,681Fergus County: 4,365 jobsFergus County4,365Glacier County: 4,166 jobsGlacier County4,166Rosebud County: 4,125 jobsRosebud County4,125Madison County: 3,801 jobsMadison County3,801Dawson County: 3,739 jobsDawson County3,739Beaverhead County: 3,719 jobsBeaverhead County3,719Roosevelt County: 3,695 jobsRoosevelt County3,695Deer Lodge County: 3,273 jobsDeer Lodge County3,273Valley County: 3,202 jobsValley County3,202Stillwater County: 3,184 jobsStillwater County3,184Sanders County: 2,727 jobsSanders County2,727Carbon County: 2,606 jobsCarbon County2,606Jefferson County: 2,547 jobsJefferson County2,547Powell County: 2,387 jobsPowell County2,387Toole County: 1,979 jobsToole County1,979Teton County: 1,782 jobsTeton County1,782Pondera County: 1,746 jobsPondera County1,746Fallon County: 1,550 jobsFallon County1,550Sheridan County: 1,522 jobsSheridan County1,522Sweet Grass County: 1,490 jobsSweet Grass County1,490Blaine County: 1,466 jobsBlaine County1,466Musselshell County: 1,330 jobsMusselshell County1,330Broadwater County: 1,317 jobsBroadwater County1,317Phillips County: 1,260 jobsPhillips County1,260Chouteau County: 1,155 jobsChouteau County1,155Mineral County: 1,137 jobsMineral County1,137Granite County: 829 jobsGranite County829Meagher County: 634 jobsMeagher County634Daniels County: 611 jobsDaniels County611Wheatland County: 568 jobsWheatland County568McCone County: 562 jobsMcCone County562Powder River County: 527 jobsPowder River County527Judith Basin County: 505 jobsJudith Basin County505Liberty County: 500 jobsLiberty County500Wibaux County: 314 jobsWibaux County314Prairie County: 305 jobsPrairie County305Garfield County: 285 jobsGarfield County285Carter County: 265 jobsCarter County265Treasure County: 188 jobsTreasure County188Golden Valley County: 182 jobsGolden Valley County182Petroleum County: 91 jobsPetroleum County91
jobs. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2015
jobs
Change on 2014
1Yellowstone County80,568+2.6%
2Missoula County57,337+1.8%
3Gallatin County52,059+5.5%
4Flathead County40,689+3.9%
5Lewis and Clark County35,429-0.5%
6Cascade County34,915-1%
7Silver Bow County15,732+1.6%
8Ravalli County11,238+5.3%
9Lake County8,511+3%
10Hill County6,882+1.6%
11Richland County6,329-8.5%
12Park County5,693+5.2%
13Custer County5,463-3.3%
14Lincoln County5,135+0.6%
15Big Horn County4,681+3.3%
16Fergus County4,365-0.4%
17Glacier County4,166+0.4%
18Rosebud County4,125+0.5%
19Madison County3,801+4.7%
20Dawson County3,739-1.8%
21Beaverhead County3,719+4.5%
22Roosevelt County3,695-3.6%
23Deer Lodge County3,273+0.3%
24Valley County3,202+0.9%
25Stillwater County3,184-3.4%
26Sanders County2,727+4.2%
27Carbon County2,606+1.8%
28Jefferson County2,547+4.6%
29Powell County2,387+2.5%
30Toole County1,979-2.6%
31Teton County1,782+0.1%
32Pondera County1,746+3.4%
33Fallon County1,550-7.3%
34Sheridan County1,522-2.7%
35Sweet Grass County1,490+3.1%
36Blaine County1,466+0.1%
37Musselshell County1,330+4%
38Broadwater County1,317-0.9%
39Phillips County1,260+0.4%
40Chouteau County1,155-2.2%
41Mineral County1,137-0.5%
42Granite County829+5.7%
43Meagher County634+8.7%
44Daniels County611+1.5%
45Wheatland County568-0.7%
46McCone County562-2.9%
47Powder River County527+0.2%
48Judith Basin County505+13.2%
49Liberty County500+6.2%
50Wibaux County314-1.3%
51Prairie County305+5.2%
52Garfield County285+5.6%
53Carter County2650%
54Treasure County188+3.3%
55Golden Valley County182+3.4%
56Petroleum County91-10.8%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average number of jobs covered by unemployment insurance during the year, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counted where the job is located, from the reports employers file each quarter; monthly employment counts the jobs in the pay period that includes the 12th.

Counts jobs, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice. Covers about 95 percent of US wage and salary jobs. Excludes the self-employed, most agricultural workers on small farms, the armed forces, elected officials in most states, most railroad employees, some domestic workers and most student workers at schools. A count of employer reports, not a survey estimate like oews_employment.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in Montana by covered employment (QCEW), 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Montana by covered employment (QCEW), 2015. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/montana-counties?period=2015. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in Montana by covered employment (QCEW), 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/montana-counties?period=2015.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Montana by covered employment (QCEW), 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/montana-counties?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_montana_by_2015,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Montana by covered employment (QCEW), 2015}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/montana-counties?period=2015. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Montana by covered employment (QCEW), 2015
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/montana-counties?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/montana-counties?period=2015.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest covered employment (QCEW)?

Yellowstone County, with 80,568 jobs in 2015, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Petroleum County, with 91 jobs in 2015.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Covered employment (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in Montana: more rankings