According to Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Montanans have "never had it better." But on this Labor Day 2007, evidence is clear that the Treasure State has a major, chronic problem: It simply isn't creating enough good jobs to keep its young employees from leaving for more prosperous states.
As of July 1, 2000, according to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report, there were 130,807 Montanans aged 15 to 24. Five years later, there were just 128,566 Montanans aged 20 to 29. Effectively, the state suffered a net loss of 2.3 percent of its young labor force in just five years. Census Bureau data also indicate this decline is largely attributable to the absence of a Right to Work law in Montana.
By MARK MIX
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