Montana sees an increase in side-gigs and small owned businesses

MONTANA — More people in Montana are taking on side jobs and state labor leaders said those extra jobs are also helping some workers start small businesses.

A ZipRecruiter survey found more than a third of U.S. workers had one or more side jobs in addition to their primary employment. The same survey found workers younger than 45 were twice as likely to have extra jobs as older workers.

In Montana, that trend lined up with another shift: owning and operating a small business.

At Lighthouse Espresso in Missoula, Michelle Hritsco balanced business ownership with her other job teaching at the University of Montana. She said her move into ownership started in the family after her mother-in-law retired.

"I actually, this is my first year running this because my mother in law owned the business... she retired. So, she separated them, gave me the mobiles, and she gave my sister in law the shop," Hritsco said.

State labor leaders said Montana recorded net-positive business creation every year since 2014. In 2024, the state averaged about 105 more business openings than closures each quarter.

They said entrepreneurship had become an important pathway into the workforce as employers continued looking for workers.

"Montana continues to lead the nation in new business startups year over year. We know that entrepreneurism is often one of the first ways that many Montanans access the workforce..." Swanson said.

For Hritsco, owning the espresso trailer did not replace her career. She said it gave her another way to stay connected to the community while continuing a family tradition.

"No, I love it. I love doing this. They're so different that I actually—I love doing both. So it's just... yeah... I have a great time," Hritsco said.

State labor leaders said Montana's independent workforce did not look the same for everyone. They expected entrepreneurship to remain an important part of the state's workforce as more Montanans created their own opportunities.