New DLI Report Highlights Opportunity to Reconnect Montanans with Meaningful Work
- — August 08 2025
HELENA, Mont – The Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) today highlighted the opportunity for the State of Montana to reconnect more than 100,000 Montanans with meaningful work. In a new report, DLI analyzed nearly 340,000 Montanans who are not actively participating in the labor force, showing that more than 100,000 Montanans aged 16 to 54 are not employed and not actively seeking work.
“Montana’s economy continues to be strong, with June marking the ninth straight month of unemployment rates under 3%,” said Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Sarah Swanson “With nearly two jobs available for every one worker, Montana has an opportunity to increase participation in the labor force by connecting more than 100,000 Montanans to a meaningful and good-paying job in a high demand sector. Today’s report is the first step in helping people who are able to work find their way back to employment.”
The Report, “ Montanans for Hire: An Examination of the Non-Working Population in Montana,” details several barriers to work faced by those who are not actively seeking employment, including lack of access to childcare, chronic illness or disability, and criminal justice history. Childcare access and affordability has also resulted in an estimated 64,000 underemployed Montanans – people working part-time or reducing hours to manage child care needs. More than 17,000 Montanans are dealing with illness or disability as a barrier to work, with mobility challenges being the most common challenge.
“For some people, choosing to stay home and care for a family member or opting in to early retirement is a choice – one that works for them and is financially sustainable. Some young people are not working while they finish their education. But there are thousands of Montanans who want to work but are facing obstacles they can’t overcome on their own,” said Swanson. “We have an opportunity to bring employers to the table and tear down those barriers, so that people can get back to work and fill critically needed jobs.”
The Report is available to the public on DLI’s Labor Market Information site.