Resources for Flooding Victims and Other Updates
- — June 01 2022
DLI Newsletter | June 2022
Message from the Commissioner:
Dear Reader,
All Montanans have spent the week consumed by the devastating flooding in southern Montana. At Governor Gianforte's request, the President has declared a major disaster in response to the flooding.
Whether you are personally impacted by the disaster, or have friends or loved ones who are suffering, know that the Department's employees have you in our prayers and we stand ready to assist in whatever way possible. Information for those affected, as well as other updates from the Department, are below.
Sincerely,
Laurie Esau
Commissioner of Labor & Industry
Resources for Flooding Victims
Unemployment Insurance
Individuals who have lost work due to flooding may be eligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. To file a claim online, visit MontanaWorks.gov. You can also call the Unemployment Insurance Division's Claims Processing Center at (406) 444-2545 if you have questions.
Job Service Montana
Job Service Montana locations can help provide a range of resources to those out of work or seeking work due to this disaster. Individuals impacted can contact Job Service Billings at (406) 652-3080.
We encourage you to share this information with individuals you may know in the impacted areas.
The Department of Labor & Industry continues to work to respond and provide services to those impacted by the disaster. Stay tuned to the Department's website and Facebook page for additional updates in the days to come.
Montana's Labor Force, Total Employment Set New Records in May
Both Montana’s labor force and total employment continued to set historic records in May, with the state’s labor force growing by an estimated 2,168 workers and total employment posting gains of 1,559 workers. Both key indicators are at their highest point in Montana’s history. Montana’s unemployment rate ticked up 0.1% in May to 2.4%, as labor force growth slightly outpaced total employment.
We continue to see more and more workers joining Montana’s labor force, an encouraging sign as Montana businesses seek to fill needed positions. Expanding our supply of workers – and ensuring they’re trained with the skills employers need -- will be key to continuing the strong economic growth Montana has enjoyed over the last year and a half. More Montanans are working than ever before, and its labor force today is the largest ever.
For the latest economic data on Montana, visit the Department's Labor Market Information page.
Apprenticeship Program in the Spotlight
Montana's Registered Apprentice Program is one of our Department's best success stories. Just this week, Apprenticeship Specialist Jimmie Rude discussed recent changes to the program that have helped dramatically expand the number of apprenticeship opportunities employers are able to provide across Montana.
Registered Apprenticeship was also recently featured in a news story on KRTV in Great Falls. Great Falls High School's Madison Hewitt completed an apprenticeship program and earned her Child Development Associate Credential. To read Madison's story click here.
Apprenticeships offer outstanding opportunities to workers in a wide array of fields and occupations. Learn more about why you should consider an apprenticeship in this video.
ERD Hosts Well-Attended Virtual Medical Symposium
On June 7th the Employment Relations Division hosted a virtual Medical Symposium for stakeholders in the workers’ compensation community here in Montana. The three-hour event featured speakers from around the US. It provided valuable and up-to-date information on workers’ compensation benefits. Ninety individuals attended this free event with 76 certified claims examiners receiving 228 credits for continuing education.
The Employment Relations Division's Workers Compensation Section is hosting three more virtual stakeholder meetings this year:
Thursday, June 30, 2022 – 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 7, 2022 - 1:30 pm to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 14, 2022 - 1:30 pm to 4:30 p.m.
A variety of topics and information related to workers compensation will be presented.
- To register, please email nhartman@mt.gov to receive the zoom meeting link.
Lewistown Business Recognized With Workplace Safety Award
The Montana Safety and Health Bureau announced Spika Design & Manufacturing, Inc. out of Lewistown was a recipient of the SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program) Designation.
The SHARP program recognizes small business employers who have used OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program services and operate exemplary safety and health programs.
Throughout its history, Spika has stuck to the timeless American values of quality, manufacturing ingenuity, and innovation. Spika designs and builds cutting-edge access solutions to keep workers safe across the globe. To learn more about Spika, visit their website here.
June is National Safety Month
Each year during the month of June, the National Safety Council makes available four relevant safety/health topics for businesses to use to promote safety awareness and grow their safety culture.
Taking time to discuss safety topics can help increase awareness which may reduce the likelihood of workplace injuries. Reduction in injuries not only saves you money on workers’ compensation premiums and lost production, studies have routinely shown that safe work environments have higher quality outputs than those who are less safe.
Safety materials free to download can be found here.
Contact
Public Information Officer
Montana Department of Labor and Industry