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The 2019 Jobs Issue

The Flathead Valley is headed toward another spring and summer of a tight job market, with employers seeking solutions to staffing shortages

By Beacon Staff

The snow is melting and the birds are singing again in the Flathead Valley, but the tightening job market has become just as much of a reliable indicator that the seasons are changing.

In this year’s edition of the Jobs Issue, Beacon writers take a look at the job market in the Flathead and Montana, what kind of jobs are going to be in demand for years to come, how working remotely has become a staple in the workforce, how seasonal jobs are filling up, and how educational efforts are progressing to build the kind of workers needed.

If you’re a potential employee looking for a new job, the Job Service Kalispell Job Fair is on April 25 at the Gateway Community Center.


Construction on the north end of Kalispell on March 21, 2019. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

Another Tight Year for the Job Market

by Molly Priddy

As the manager for the Job Service Kalispell, Laura Gardner said the winter cold didn’t slow down the employment market in the Flathead much, and she anticipates a continued tight labor market as the valley eyes another spring and summer.

“We currently have 696 open jobs that are listed,” Gardner said last week. “It has started to pick up now with the nicer spring weather; more things are opening up again.”

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People make their way through the Aerial Adventure Park at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Beacon file photo.

Seasonal Jobs Fill Up Ahead of the Busiest Time of Year

by Justin Franz

Hiring managers from Glacier National Park to area breweries are all combing through piles of applications to fill the thousands of seasonal jobs that boost the local economy between Memorial Day and Labor Day. While some entities are deep into the hiring process, others are just beginning, meaning there is still time for those looking for summer work to apply.

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Help Needed: Employment Projections in Montana

by Molly Priddy

According to employment projections from DLI, the state is expected to add 3,860 jobs annually through 2027, though the expected number of job openings is much higher. The projections are for 10 years, from 2017 to 2027, and are the latest data available.

This is a breakdown of employment projections from DLI, with some of the fastest growth expected right here in Northwest Montana.

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Flathead Valley Community College. Beacon file photo

Training the Next Generation of Flathead Valley Workers

by Andy Viano

Northwest Montana’s only post-secondary educator is responding to a local employee shortage by giving prospective employees the skills they need to start a career in one of the fields of greatest local need.

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Basecamp Coworking in Whitefish offers a range of drop-in desks, dedicated desks, private offices and conference rooms for remote workers to choose from. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

The Rise of Remote Workers

by Myers Reece

Montana gives the word “remote” a literal sense, with a geography and demography that traditionally connote a degree of isolation. But in a plugged-in world that’s increasingly interconnected, and one in which employees of all stripes seek outdoor playgrounds, Montana is a logical remote worker stronghold.

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