Help wanted signs dot businesses across Montana. Employers in many industries have noted their struggle to find workers. State unemployment rates have dropped to pre-pandemic levels, and data shows around 16,000 workers are currently needed to fill vacant positions in Montana. The shortage isn t new. This 2018 article from Montana Business Quarterly lamenting the lack of employees could have been written yesterday.
Yet, some Montanans are having difficulty finding work, like Leah Ford. We sat down with Leah for a few minutes this week and her story is pretty incredible. You can listen to the podcast below or click here.
Leah has submitted over 170 job applications since November.
Montana Woman Has Applied for Over 170 jobs She s Still Looking 971kissfm.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 971kissfm.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
University of Montana School of Journalism
Despite all the challenges brought by the pandemic, lawmakers in the 67th Montana Legislative Session are wasting no time in pushing through a deluge of bills some new and untested, some vetoed numerous times before, but all being considered in a new light with a Republican governor in office for the first time in 16 years.
Wednesday, March 3 marked the halfway point of the session and a key deadline called “transmittal.” Any general policy bills not attached to the state budget that have not advanced from the house they originated in are considered dead.
Over the upcoming week, the state Legislature will take up several of the policies proposed by Gov. Greg Gianforte in his inaugural state budget.
Gianforte, the stateâs first Republican executive in 16 years, has dubbed it âTax Reform Week.â In an interview last Friday, the governor said his goal is to provide âbroad-based tax relief to individuals, low-income folks and small businessâ through incremental changes that he wants to start this session and expand on later in his term.
Business organizations in the state support the proposals from Gianforte, as his plans align with what the groups have long called for. The governor argues things like raising the business equipment tax exemption, dropping the top income tax rate and eliminating the capital gains tax for some entrepreneurs will result in more investment and jobs in the state, overall boosting the economy. Republicans, who hold the majority in the Legislature, have also indicated they back the plan
HELENA, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte made an address at the State of the State in the Helena Capitol Thursday evening.
At the start of the address, Gianforte spoke about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Montana and encouraged people to continue helping their neighbors.
âOur Montana resiliency has shown bright and itâs an example to other states,â Gianforte said. âAnd while we are resilient, the pandemic remains the biggest challenge we face today, addressing it is my top priority as your governor.â
Gianforte said they have begun improving how the pandemic is confronted by changing the stateâs vaccine distribution plan to protect the most vulnerable.