Employers chalk up job gains, losses

The Flathead County job market shrank over the last year, with about 750 fewer jobs available with some of the county's largest employers, according to the Daily Inter Lake's annual employment survey conducted in March.

Two local companies, Semitool and Columbia Falls Aluminum Co., took the biggest hits over the last year.

Semitool has 279 fewer employees than it did at this time last year, and Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. has 263 fewer employees. The aluminum plant will operate half a potline until June, said Haley Beaudry, manager of external affairs.

The economy has hit Swank Enterprises hard as well. Several months ago, the contractor employed anywhere from 220 to 240 people. Now there are 120 people on the company payroll.

But the news isn't bad across the board.

Northwest Healthcare, which includes Kalispell Regional Medical Center, The Summit and other health-care-related businesses, gained 143 employees. North Valley Hospital in Whitefish and TeleTech each grew by about 50 people.

Most large businesses held steady from 2008 to 2009, experiencing little growth or decline.

Following are lists of the Flathead's largest private and public employers, comparing this year's employment numbers with the last two years.

Where the jobs are: Private employers

Employer Type No. of Employees

2009 2008 2007

Northwest Healthcare hospital, extended care, home health, fitness 2,070 1,927 1,785

Plum Creek Timber Co. wood products 885 1,102 1,400

Winter Sports Inc. operator of Whitefish Mountain Resort 543*/83 550*/80 567*/150

Semitool semiconductor equipment manufacturer 521 800 890

TeleTech call center 500+ 450 550

BNSF railroad 375 375 375

Workplace Inc.'staffing, professional employer organization 345 409 640

North Valley Hospital hospital 289 240 255

Glacier Bancorp holding company 271 276 259

National Flood Services business processing outsourcing 268 253 285

Immanuel Lutheran Home nursing 262 261 244

Wal-Mart retailer 260 266 265

McDonald's restaurant 250*/191 - -

Costco retailer 230*/190 200 174

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake resort 200*/80 180*/110 125

Western Building Centers lumber, hardware 195 225 230

Target retailer 185 153 112

Flathead Electric Cooperative utility company 163 165 158

Lowe's retailer 160*/135 160*/142 150*/125

Hagadone Publishing newspapers 130 150 155

Community Action Partnership community agency 130 125 122

Stoltze Lumber wood products 125 125 125

Swank Enterprises general contractors 120 230 -

Grouse Mountain Lodge resort 120*/100 120 120

Sportsman and Ski Haus retailer 101 131 -

Hilton Garden Inn hotel 100*/70 100 -

Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. aluminum refinery 97 360 287

CenturyTel telecommunications 94 100 150

Home Depot retailer 85 120*/100 122

* Denotes seasonal employment

- Data not available

Where the jobs are: Public employers' Employer No. of Employees

2009 2008 2007

State of Montana 744** 667 656

Kalispell Public Schools 696 669 470

Flathead County 500 500 486

Glacier National Park 556*/181 475*/150 475*/150

Columbia Falls School District 350 366 343

Flathead National Forest 330*/180 330*/180 385*/185

Flathead Valley Community College 300 327 350

City of Kalispell 277*/202 300*/200 310*/195

Whitefish School District 209 216 222

U.S. Postal Service 195 185 156

City of Whitefish 140*/114 108*/88 118*/102

Bigfork School District 122 120 112

Evergreen School District 98 109 104

** Indicates state employees who live in Flathead County but who may work in another county. The tracking system changed in 2009.

* Denotes seasonal employment