Southwest Montana Job Outlook Sparkling

Five southwest Montana counties show a slight increase in unemployment over the typically weak winter quarter, but most county rates are down a full percentage point from last year. Keith Kelly, Labor Commissioner for Montana says that the numbers are so low, it’s become “a talent war in Montana’s tight labor market”. As we move into spring and summer that’s always welcome news in light of those bygone years when we read about middle-class flight to find jobs. Montana has seen consistently positive employment rates since 1987.

Commenting on last year’s employment data Kelly said “Montana has experienced a year of escalating residential and commercial real estate activity, record high commodity prices, and strong growth in wages. This combination of robust economic activity helped to push unemployment rates to historically low levels.”

Who are the biggest private employers in Beaverhead county?

Size Class 4 = 20-49 employees; Size Class 5 = 50-99 employees; Size Class 6 = 100-249 employees.

Barrett Hospital & Healthcare 6

Barretts Minerals Inc. 5

Debco Construction 5

Parkview Acres Care & Rehabilitation Center 5

Great Harvest Bread Franchising 4

Pfizer Minerals 4 R E Miller & Sons 4

Safeway 5 Southwestern Montana Family YMCA 4

State Bank & Trust Co. 4

Reference:

http://www.ourfactsyourfuture.org/?PAGEID=67&SUBID=154#jfrsn

http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/global/story.asp?s=6201546