Tens of thousands of job openings in Montana to choose from over the coming decade provided that you’re qualified for them.

Looking for work in Montana? You’ll have tens of thousands of job openings to choose from over the coming decade, according to employment projections published by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry — provided, that is, you’re qualified for them.

The labor department figures, updated annually and released for 2018 to 2028 in late September, estimate 62,300 job openings each year through 2028. State economists expect 6.2% of those openings to be newly created positions, distinct from positions that come open as workers retire or change fields. Job openings created when workers change jobs within a profession aren’t included in these figures.

BY ERIC DIETRICH