Montanans at Work Tour Brings Jobs and Resources to Communities Statewide

If you’ve been wondering what’s next for Montana’s workforce, there’s something pretty exciting happening this fall. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) just announced a statewide “Montanans at Work” tour. It’s part of Governor Greg Gianforte’s 406 JOBS initiative, and the goal is to bring resources and conversations about jobs, training, and opportunities directly into our communities.

A Chance for Montanans to Shape the Future Together

At the heart of it, the tour is about connection. State leaders want local employers, workforce professionals, and everyday Montanans to sit down together and talk about what’s working, what isn’t, and what we need to move forward. Governor Gianforte put it this way: through 406 JOBS, Montana is working across public and private sectors to prepare the next generation for success. This tour gives us a chance to actually be part of shaping that future.

What Montanans Can Learn and Take Home from the Tour

The tour isn’t just a meet and greet. DLI staff will share updates on new programs and services. That includes changes to occupational licensing, new apprenticeship pathways, building code updates, reentry programs, and even adjustments to workers comp and unemployment insurance. There’s also a focus on the STARS Act, which helps high school students earn industry-recognized credentials before they even graduate. In short, it’s a full rundown of what’s changing in Montana’s workforce system.

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406 JOBS: Building Career Pathways for Every Montanan

A big focus of the tour is 406 JOBS itself. If you haven’t heard about it yet, it’s a new framework for workforce development that’s built around three big ideas: Four Pathways to Work, Zero Barriers to Employment, and Six High-Demand Sectors. The idea is to modernize how we prepare people for careers, no matter their background, and make sure every Montanan has both a pathway and a plan for success. During the tour, community members will have a chance to give feedback so this isn’t just a top-down plan, but one shaped by real voices.

The Tour is Coming to a Montana Town Near You

The tour will make stops in 15 different Montana communities, so chances are good it’s coming near you. The first events kick off September 22 and 23 in Missoula at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Missoula - Edgewater. From there, it heads to Helena on September 24 and 25 at Kleffner Ranch, then to Butte on September 25 and 26 at Front Street Station. And that’s just the start, towns from Billings and Bozeman to Wolf Point and Cut Bank are all on the schedule through the end of October.

Free Events With Easy Access for Everyone

Each stop is a day and a half long. Day one starts with registration at 8:30 a.m. and programming at 9 a.m. Day two wraps up by late morning around 11:30. The best part? It’s free to attend, though they encourage registering in advance. Full details and agendas are available on the Department of Labor & Industry website at dli.mt.gov.

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This isn’t just another government tour. It’s a chance for businesses, workers, and community members to sit down at the same table and talk about the future of Montana’s workforce. If you’ve got ideas, concerns, or even just curiosity, showing up could be a great way to make sure your voice is heard as Montana shapes its next chapter.