Montana outperforms U.S. on jobs

While the nation’s unemployment rate hit its highest point in five years Friday, the jobless picture in Montana remains much better, largely because of its natural-resource economy, a state economist said.

"If you look at the states that are doing well in 2008, they tend to be oil- and gas-producing states or agriculture states," said Barb Wagner of the Department of Labor’s Research and Analysis Bureau.

By MIKE DENNISON
Of the Gazette State Bureau

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