Billings Gazette, June 1, on Montana’s job market:
When the graduations celebrations conclude, the class of 2017 will find plenty of job openings in Montana. But most will need to continue their education past high school to snag jobs that pay well above average.
With the state at virtually full employment, lots of jobs are open. The state’s jobless rate held steady in April at 3.8 percent, compared with a national rate of 4.4 percent.
“Montana’s unemployment rate can make it difficult for employers to find the skilled workers they need to grow and expand their operations,” Labor and Industry Commissioner Pam Bucy said in a news release. “Tight labor markets also have benefits for workers because of rising wages and ample job opportunities.”
Where are the jobs? Mostly in the largest population centers. More people - 78,930 - are working in Yellowstone County than in any other place in the state. The next largest job centers are in Gallatin County with 60,709 people working, Missoula County with 59,309, Flathead County with 43,055, Cascade County with 36,622 and Lewis and Clark County with 34,294. These numbers from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry include both employees and self-employed workers.
Another important set of numbers for jobseekers is growth in employment. Gallatin County is the clear leader with 1,512 more people working now than a year ago.
All of Montana’s largest population counties have jobless rates of less than the state average, except for Flathead, which was 5.4 percent last month.
Registered nurse is the best-paying, high-demand job now and for the next eight years, according to Montana labor department projections. The state is expected to have 445 openings every year for R.N.s through 2025. In 2015, the average annual wage for Montana R.N.s was $62,650.
Other health care professions also are expected to see continuing demand growth. DLI projects Montana will need 54 new physicians every year, along with 36 new pharmacists and 62 physical therapists.
Other jobs earning over $65,000 with the most projected annual openings include: 177 general and operations managers, 53 health service managers, 58 other managers, 70 lawyers, 58 civil engineers and 50 personal financial advisors.
The DLI projects that jobs requiring no more than a high school diploma will continue to make up the majority of Montana jobs through 2025. But almost all jobs paying more than $45,000 a year will require post-secondary education.
Based on the economics of Montana’s job market, the best advice for new grads is to look at health care professional careers. Health care is expected to be the fastest-growing industry, adding 1,100 workers every year through 2025. Jobs in health care would be growing even faster if not for the shortage of trained workers, including licensed professionals.
The leisure industry (food service, accommodations, arts, entertainment and recreation) is expected to add 800 jobs per year for the next eight years.
Rounding out the top three job growth industries, is the construction industry, which continues to rebound from the Great Recession, adding about 750 jobs per year through 2025.
Montana public policy must support the training needed to fill these high-demand, skilled jobs. That’s why Career and Technical Education in our high schools is so important. Students need to learn about career opportunities and get the best preparation to succeed in college, apprenticeships and other post-secondary education.
Meeting Montana’s workforce demand puts pressure on our university system at the same time the new biennial budget will cut state support and force tuition increases on Montana resident students. The Montana University System, including community colleges, needs local employer partners and private donors now more than ever.
Editorial: https://bit.ly/2qFpEQZ
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Flathead Beacon, June 1, on an ugly election cycle for Montana’s U.S. House seat:
The day before an already ugly special election for Montana’s lone U.S. House seat, it got uglier when Greg Gianforte apparently roughed up reporter Ben Jacobs, who had asked Gianforte about his view on the Congressional Budget Office’s score of the Republican health care bill.
An audio recording of the confrontation was posted online, replayed on cable news, and a race that had garnered national attention received substantially more. What listeners heard was Gianforte growing irritated about Jacobs’ line of questioning.
And after a crashing sound, the state’s soon-to-be U.S. congressman said, “I’m sick and tired of you guys! The last guy who came here did the same thing.” To which Jacobs responded, “You just body-slammed me and broke my glasses.”
A Fox News crew witnessed the altercation. Fox reporter Alicia Acuna made it sound worse than even Jacobs did, writing that, “Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him . then began punching the reporter.” She later clarified that Gianforte “had one hand on each side of his neck.” Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault.
It was a sad representation of Montana. National reporters parked themselves at polls the next day interviewing voters about their reaction to the news. And, of course, a few of them said the reporter deserved it. Then there were the inevitable online comments posted in support of Gianforte’s actions, which were highlighted as proof that our state’s voters treat elections like blood sport.
Perhaps Gianforte was at his wit’s end after a grueling election cycle, which followed a grueling failed bid for governor. Maybe his ire toward The Guardian was simmering and boiled over when Jacobs put a recorder to his face. But listening to the interaction, where a fairly mundane question was asked about the news of the day (the CBO score), Gianforte’s response was at once bizarre and frightening.
While he has, on occasion, openly sparred with the state’s press, Gianforte was also endorsed by three of its largest newspapers: the Billings Gazette, the Missoulian and the Helena Independent-Record, which before rescinding their support had touted his business acumen and willingness to compromise. Gianforte highlighted the endorsements in commercials.
Gianforte was stung by coverage of his unclear views on health care and irked over questions about his support for public lands. But his opponent, Democrat Rob Quist, had his own share of skeletons exposed over the course of the 85-day campaign. It was reported that the longtime musician had defaulted on a bank loan, underreported income on his taxes and was cited for marijuana possession.
When more than $17 million, the most ever, is poured into a U.S. House race in Montana, there’s bound to be some bruises - but figuratively not literally. And stories this election cycle didn’t nearly reach the level of fallout in previous statewide races.
In 2014, during Steve Daines’ run against Sen. John Walsh, who was appointed to the position by Gov. Steve Bullock after Max Baucus vacated the seat, the biggest story of the election cycle was that Walsh plagiarized portions of a research paper in graduate school. It effectively ended Walsh’s political career. He withdrew from the race and Daines cruised to victory.
Whatever caused Gianforte to snap isn’t entirely clear. But our congressman won’t last long in the halls of the Capitol if he doesn’t like microphones shoved in his face.
Editorial: https://bit.ly/2qJVaIt
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Daily Inter Lake, May 26, on Kalispell police adding body cameras:
As of this week, all Kalispell police officers will be equipped with one of the department’s new body cameras.
About the size of a cellphone, each camera is armed with high-quality optics, night-vision capabilities and several hours’ worth of storage for video. Officers can turn the camera on and off, but do not have the option to delete footage.
We’re glad to see this new technology at our local police department and foresee a number of benefits for the entire community.
Body cam footage can be used as a valuable resource in the prosecution of criminals, while also protecting both officers and the public. Instead of relying solely on written statements or witness accounts, a judge or jury can simply look at the tape for a more accurate record of events.
Video also brings the raw emotion of a situation into the courtroom, where police reports often come across as “sterile.” And as Deputy Flathead County Attorney Travis Ahner notes, both prosecution and defense attorneys will benefit from this technology in determining how to tackle a case or whether to pursue charges.
For sure there are some concerns with body-worn cameras, including the effects these devices have on privacy and community relationships. But with clearly defined guidelines and proper training within the department, these cameras should prove to be a worthy asset to the public.
Editorial: https://bit.ly/2rfhcGx
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