Montana is facing a multifaceted problem. The economy is growing, and jobs are being created, but there may not be people to fill those jobs.
Montana is the oldest state west of the Mississippi, according to median age statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, and demographic projections show the state growing collectively older.
It’s also estimated that by 2030, Montana will be one of ten states in the country to have more people over the age of 65 than under the age of 18, and it will be one of only six states to have 25% of its population aged 65 and older.
The economic, cultural, and personal impacts of that trend present the state and its residents with new challenges.
University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research economist Pat Barkey said, “Any individual company can find good workers, but in aggregate there are fewer of those [workers].” He continued, “it’s always good to have more jobs than people, but it’s still a problem.”
This problem is evident in Havre, business owners, such as Ashley Callahan the general manager at Bear Paw Meats agree that there is a labor shortage.
