U.S. Employment Exploration: Idaho, Montana & Wyoming
If you want to live in an area that’s not heavily populated, these states might interest you. The 2002 population estimates came in under 500,000 for Wyoming, about 909,000 for Montana and about 1.3 million for Idaho. In contrast, the county of Santa Clara in California had nearly 1.7 million people. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, mean travel time to work in the three states was estimated at 20 minutes or less, versus 27.7 minutes in California.
You should also consider a number of other factors in making your decision, such as climate, employment opportunities and cost of living. One factor you might not think about is the percentage of population classed as “white persons, not of Hispanic/Latino origin,” which ranged between 88.0 and 89.5 percent in the 2000 Census for Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, versus a range between 22.9 (Hawaii) and 85.3 percent (Utah) for the other western states. If cultural diversity matters to you, these states might not offer the environment you’re seeking.
Climate
Idaho’s climate is diverse, with the northern part generally having more precipitation (rain and snow) and cooler summer temperatures than the southern part. The state doesn’t get hurricanes, and tornadoes are very rare.
Montana has huge climatic variations. The area west of the Continental Divide, where most of the population lives, tends to have milder winters, cooler summers and lighter winds than the area east of the Divide. Severe cold waves can occur in the northeast during winter. Tornadoes are rate and mostly occur east of the Divide.
Wyoming’s generally high elevation means its climate tends to be relatively cool and semi-arid, but annual precipitation varies from 5 inches to 45 inches throughout the state.
Monthly Average Temperatures High, Low (Degrees Fahrenheit): Idaho 90.6, 15.1; Montana 86.6, 8.1 ; Wyoming 87.1, 11.9.
Employment Opportunities
The unemployment rate for Idaho in April 2004 was forecast at 4.3 percent. However, it varied from 3.5 to 7.5 percent in different areas of the state. Per capital annual income in 2002 averaged just over $25,000. You can go to the state’s Department of Labor web site and compare your salary to Idaho with the 2004 Occupational Employment and Wage Survey.
Industry projections for 2000-2010 show that the top growth industries are expected to include holding and other investment offices; fishing, hunting and trapping; instruments and related products; and agricultural services. Declines are expected in metal mining, oil and gas extraction, railroad transportation, and forestry.
Montana’s labor report for May 2004 showed an unemployment rate of 4.7 percent, along with employment gains in every major industry except manufacturing. The highest-growth industries included leisure and hospitalities, financial activities, natural resources (logging) and mining, and private educational and health services.
The unemployment rate for Wyoming as of May 2004 was 3.7 percent. The state’s economy grew a modest 1.7 percent (4,200 jobs) over that same period. Natural resources and mining increased 11.2 percent; other growth industries included wholesale trade, financial activities, and educational and health services.
Cost of Living
According to IdahoWorks.com, Idaho has the second-lowest overall cost of living of the 11 western states, at 97.6 percent of the national average (based on an ACCRA Cost of Living Index). The chart shows Montana at 100.6 percent and Wyoming at 102.0 percent.
Figures provided by the Helena, Montana, Chamber of Commerce indicate that Montana compares favorably to Boise, Idaho, with regard to housing costs but lags far behind it on utilities costs.
The most expensive area in Wyoming is Teton County, largely because of its resort nature. Energy-related activity affecting the northeast part of the state has maintained its cost of living above the state average, and housing costs have led to higher cost of living rates for two southeastern counties.
Online Resources
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