Christiana Stoddard

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte says his administration has surpassed a major goal for economic growth during his first year in office: adding 10,000 jobs that pay $50,000 a year. At the same time, rising inflation is cutting into Montanans' earnings.

According to data from the state labor department, in 2021 Montana added nearly 13,000 new jobs that pay above the state’s median wage. That exceeded the governor’s goal to add a net of 10,000 new jobs that pay more than $50,000.