Montana looks at worker shortage. Retirements add to the challenge.

"I just need someone to show up and work!"

The official statistics are simple enough.

Montana’s low unemployment rate increased slightly to 3.1 percent in October, up from 2.9 percent in September.

In Yellowstone County, however, unemployment is sitting 2 percent. That means 81,209 people are working in this county and 1,670 are officially unemployed, according to the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. If a worker has stopped looking for a job, he or she isn’t counted in the labor force.

By JAN FALSTAD
Of The Gazette Staff

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/12/02/news/business/22-shortage.txt

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68% of classified employees in Montana’s state govt. are eligible for retirement in the next 5 years. This is the highest % in the nation. Finding, keeping tech staff will be challenge http://www.matr.net/article-16053.html

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Area’s unemployment rate makes hiring hard work

By JAN FALSTAD
Of The Gazette Staff

Hiring was hard last winter in Yellowstone County, but since summer Billings UPS Store owner Rick Williams said, "It’s just gone bonkers."

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/12/02/news/business/20-hiring.txt