Plum Creek to fill 10 jobs for summer

Plum Creek Timber Co. is hiring again.

The lumber company is advertising 10 temporary positions at its two Columbia Falls locations to help cover vacation days for its full-time staff.

The positions are expected to last through the end of summer, according to Kathy Budinick, Plum Creek director of communications.

Six workers are needed for the medium density fiberboard facility and four positions are available at the sawmill.

Plum Creek has struggled with the lagging lumber market for the past few years.

Low demand forced the company to lay off workers at the Columbia Falls sawmill last year. In 2009, the company shuttered plants in Evergreen, Pablo and Ksanka.

The company currently employs 735 people in Montana, down from 1,000 a year ago. There are 536 employees anchored at the Columbia Falls facilities.

Budinick said the company is keeping a close watch on the market, searching for any indication of a turnaround, but isn’t seeing enough stabilization at this point to consider expanding its full-time staff.