HELENA, Mont. — Governor Greg Gianforte announced on Tuesday that Montana’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.4% in May.

The figure remained below the national unemployment rate, which held at 4.3% throughout the month.

“As we implement our 406 JOBS initiative, we continue our historic stretch of low unemployment while ensuring Montanans who are able to work have a pathway to a meaningful career,” Gianforte stated.

The governor noted that the slight decline in May happened as Montana’s labor force, total employment and unemployment all fell over the month.

Additionally, Gianforte explained that the unemployment rate moved lower due to the drop in unemployment being larger than the decline in employment.