Are Montanans A Bunch Of Quitters? New Data Suggests Its True.

Living in Montana has its challenges.

Long winters, deadly wildlife, forest fires, and a plethora of other things. However, one of the things that makes Montana great is it's people.  Folks that are strong-willed, resilient, and prepared to take on whatever comes their way.

Of course, over the last several years, many folks from different states have moved to the state and a lot of folks who've been here their whole lives are suggesting that the Montana they once knew and loved has most definitely changed.

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I bring this up because new data suggests that Montana is one of the top states in the nation for folks quitting their jobs. Our friends over at WalletHub released some new information and according to their data, Montana is ranked 6th in the nation when it comes to States with the Highest Resignation Rates.

The only states ranking higher than Montana when it comes to resignation rates are Oklahoma, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arizona, and West Virginia. WalletHub looked at two different factors when determining the rankings:

• Resignation Rates in the last month
• Resignation Rate in the last 12 months

This month the resignation rate in Montana is at 3.10 percent, while the resignation rate in the last 12 months has been 3.61 percent. So what's behind the whole resignation thing in Montana?

Are people moving here and finding out that due to the high cost of living, they can't afford to make it? Is it low pay? Is it a better opportunity? Or is it a generational thing?

There has certainly been a shift over the last few years in the way that employers treat employees.  For years, workers did what was asked of them, however, we've seen employees demanding more in the last decade or so, and to get good, quality employees, many businesses have stepped up to the plate.

Many Montana towns are struggling to hire people, so there is certainly the work opportunity. Take Bozeman for example, although it's better now, for a long time many Bozeman businesses were shutting down because they didn't have enough staff.

Will Montana businesses have to continue to come up with new and creative ways to white and retain employees? Or, is this the new normal? Let us know your thoughts by sending us a message on our radio station app.