Workshop for employers in tight Montana labor market

There are “Help Wanted” signs on business fronts all over town, a 3.9 percent Cascade County unemployment rate and a high number of job openings posted at Job Service.

Veteran Great Falls Job Service Workforce Coordinator Barbara Hardy says today’s Great Falls and Montana job market reminds her of what it was like in 2008, shortly before the Recession hit Great Falls.

“Employers are facing exactly the same issues today, including a labor shortage, lack of enough skilled workers and an aging generation of workers getting ready to retire,” Hardy said.

The Great Falls Job Service has had as many as 900 job postings at times this summer, the highest in years, she said, adding: “There probably are considerably more job openings out there because many employers don’t list openings with us.”

According to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry’s June “Economy at a Glance” column, Montana’s economy has been growing for four years’ time during which concern has switched from high unemployment to fears of a worker shortage.

“Montana’s relatively small population of younger workers entering the labor force, and large number of workers preparing to retire may keep the labor force from growing as fast as employer demand for workers,” it said. “Without a sufficient supply of labor, businesses will have difficulty finding workers to produce goods and services, limiting economic growth.”

Two groups, Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and the Great Falls Job Service Employers Committee, are sponsoring a workshop for employers on Sept. 15 to help them recruit and retain good employees.

The workshop is designed to help employers understand how the economy is affecting recruitment and give them ideas to tap into under-used labor pools and strategies for retaining good employees.

Barbara Wagner, chief economist for the state Labor Department’s Research and Analysis Bureau, will discuss how the improving economy and reduced labor force is making it harder for businesses to recruit. Since most skilled workers already have jobs, employers are having to offer higher wages at most job levels to recruit and keep workers, Hardy said.

Hardy will talk about ways to tap into potentially under-used labor markets, such as retirees, people with disabilities, stay-at-home parents looking for extra income and people with criminal records. Some are hard to reach through traditional job postings, she said, but employers might be able to reach such prospective employees by networking with their current employees and customers.

Chris Hindoien of the Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve group will point out that many Guard and Reserve members are underemployed although they are skilled, reliable and drug-free.

City of Great Falls Training and Development Coordinator Mark Willmarth will discuss strategies for retaining employees.

In addition, three or four private employers will be on a panel talking about their successful job retention methods.

Workshop particulars

Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and the Great Falls Job Service Employers Committee will sponsor a workshop for employers on Sept. 15 called “Recruitment & Retention: Finding and Keeping Good Employees.”

It will be in Heritage Hall at Great Falls College Montana State University, 2100 16th Ave. S., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be included in the registration, which is $50 per person, and $40 for each additional person from the same business. To register or for more information call 791-5816.