Montana Ranks in Top 10 in Job Openings Rate

What was your first job? Mine was a busboy position at a ma and pa restaurant in my hometown. After that, I was a cashier at a liquor store (not-so-fun fact: I was fired from that position. And no, it was not for drinking on the job) and then a custodian.

I needed the money as a youngin', but nowadays fewer and fewer folks are working in those positions, especially in Montana.

A recent study from WalletHub and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed employers are still struggling to fill positions nationwide. The study highlights the job opening rate in the latest month and the last 12 months.

Montana ranks in the top 10

Montana checks in number 9 overall. The Treasure State's job opening rate was higher over the last 12 months (7.38%) compared to last month (6.70%). Montana ranked 4th in the nation over the last year and 11th in the last month.

Trends show Montana's job opening rate improving which coincides with the nation's average. Amidst the COVID pandemic, The U.S. labor force participation rate bottomed out to 60.1% in April 2020 - the lowest since at least November 2023. It has, however, climbed to 62.6% over the last three years and change.

Montana's neighbors provide mixed results

Unfortunately, Montana ranks the highest in the West. Wyoming checks in 16th, Idaho a tad lower at 19th, North Dakota is 26th and South Dakota is 31st.

Our friends on the coast have some of the lowest job opening rates. Washington is 50th, only trailing New York (the study counts the District of Columbia) and Oregon is 41st.