Economic Outlook Seminar Headed To Nine Montana Cities

As the nation heads toward economic recovery, it appears that job losses and unemployment rates during the recession were much higher for men than for women.

Roughly 1.7 million more men than women entered the ranks of the unemployed between March 2008 and March 2009, while the national unemployment rate for men was 9.5 percent compared to 7.5 percent for women.

How has this played out in Montana? And what are the latest economic trends and forecasts for the nation, state and local economies? In light of the recently announced closure of Smurfit-Stone in Missoula and the permanent closures of other wood products-related manufacturers, these questions have greater importance. They will be discussed at the 35th Annual Economic Outlook Seminar – “Economic Recovery: What’s Ahead for Men and Women Workers?” – headed to nine Montana cities during January, February and March.

The program is presented by The University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research and features economic researchers and experts from throughout the Montana University System.

Professor Wendy Stock, chair of the Montana State University Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics, will discuss the recession’s impacts, economic recovery and work force issues.

BBER economists Patrick Barkey and Paul Polzin will present economic outlook forecasts for each seminar city, and industry experts will provide the outlook for Montana’s important industries: nonresident travel, housing, health care, agriculture, manufacturing and forest products.

Montana Kids Count will present a luncheon program on investments in early childhood education.

The seminar runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration costs $80, which includes a proceedings booklet, lunch and a one-year subscription to Montana Business Quarterly, BBER’s award-winning business journal.

The seminar series begins in Missoula on Friday, Jan. 22, at the Hilton Garden Inn. Following is the schedule for other seminar cities:

■ Helena – Jan. 26, Best Western Great Northern

■ Great Falls – Jan. 27, Hilton Garden Inn

■ Billings – Feb. 2, MSU-Billings, Student Union Ballroom

■ Bozeman – Feb. 3, Best Western GranTree Inn

■ Butte – Feb. 4, Holiday Inn Express

■ Kalispell – Feb. 12, Hilton Garden Inn

■ Lewistown – March 16, Central Montana Education Center

■ Havre – March 17, MSU-Northern, Hensler Auditorium

For more information or to register for a seminar, visit the BBER Web site at http://www.bber.umt.edu or call 406-243-5113.