Montana Overview

Montana is a state of vast spaces and wide open skies that stretch for miles. The Treasure State is most reliant on agriculture, natural resources and energy, which have had a positive influence on Montana jobs. Montana and its more than 500,000 workers are expected to see a positive but mild recovery as the state focuses on developing its technology and biotechnology sectors, advancing agriculture and developing innovations in energy.

Montana Job Opportunities

Montana’s stunning landscape and low population density attract about 9 million tourists a year, making the leisure and hospitality sector an important source of jobs in Montana. Montana is also focused on growing jobs within the aerospace, agriculture, biotech, healthcare, manufacturing, natural resources and technology sectors.

The most Montana jobs are provided by the government and trade, transportation and utilities industries. Few sectors have reported job gains in 2012, with government, leisure and hospitality, and the financial activities sectors shedding the most jobs.

Montana Employment Trends

Montana’s unemployment rate peaked at 7 percent in late 2010 and again in mid-2011, before improving to 6.3 percent in June 2012. State payrolls and online hiring volumes have been negative for most of 2011 and 2012.

The Montana job supply is expected to increase 1 percent between Q2 2012 and Q2 2013, below the 1.3 percent growth expected in the US job supply, Moody’s Analytics forecasts.