Report Says Rural Areas Hurting For Working-Age Montanans

Rural Montana is missing something in the middle, according to a new analysis of U-S Census numbers. The Center For Rural Affairs report finds a downward trend of residents in their 20s, 30s and 40s, while the numbers of young people and seniors are holding steady. Report author Jon Bailey explains that working-age Montanans leave because they need good-paying jobs that tend to be scarce outside of cities and towns.

Bailey says the research demonstrates the need to focus on new and innovative ways to create rural economic opportunities. Renewable energy, broadband expansion and ecotourism are recommended in the report as investments that could help grow working-age populations, and in turn, better support the younger and older generations.

Click here for a link to the report "Age Distribution on the Great Plains”.
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