EDITORIAL: Good news for Labor Day holiday

Many Montanans are enjoying the fruits of their labor this weekend, as they celebrate the Labor Day holiday with their family and friends.

The tradition of Labor Day dates back to the 19th century when America first specifically honored the contributions of the working people who had helped make America great. The holiday for many years was associated with labor unions, but today it has come to be a generalized holiday where everyone can celebrate the pleasures of a job well done — and the sheer joy of a three-day weekend!

Flathead County this year can take special pride in the fact that our economy is growing at a rapid pace, thus supplying more and better jobs to our populace. As we noted last week, many local businesses are hungry for good employees, and that has resulted in a market where workers have been able to command better salaries and bonuses. It’s still not ideal, but it’s a step in the right direction for many families.

On Tuesday, we received more good news as a recent study by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana was unveiled. That study confirmed with hard numbers what we already knew from casual observation — the health industry in Flathead County is an economic engine for the entire region.

Researcher Bryce Ward told the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce that health industry jobs, plus jobs made possible because of the health industry’s economic impact, account for $1 billion of personal income in the county.

Personal income translates as jobs, and in this case, lots of high-paying jobs, and for this Labor Day, that’s very good news indeed.