Montana faces worker shortage – 6,500 new jobs per year for the next 10 years

"We estimate that we will be adding 6,500 jobs per year for the next 10 years," said Barbara Wagner, chief economist for the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. "We are also the sixth fastest state in terms of wage growth."

There is a looming worker shortage in Montana because of low unemployment rates. Officials say it’s a double-edged sword, with unemployment in Montana currently at 4 percent and 3.6 percent in Missoula. That translates to more than 500,000 thousand Montanans employed.

"It is good news for workers, bad news for employers," said Wolf Ametsbichler, the manager of the Missoula Job Service http://jobservices.dli.mt.gov/about-job-services/missoula .

Simultaneously, Montana is experiencing high job creation.

By Hawk Hammer, KECI Reporter, [email protected]

Full Story: http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/montana-faces-worker-shortage/37515576

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Addressing Missoula’s workforce shortage

Montana has one of the lowest employment rates in the country at 4 percent, with Missoula sitting below that at 3.6 percent. However an expected 140,000 Montana’s are going to retire over the next decade with only 123,000 new workers expected to enter the workforce. In addition, expected job growth over the years leaves a projected shortage of workers.

By Cassidy Belus

Full Story: http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/31003288/addressing-missoulas-workforce-shortage