The Northwest Federation of Community Organizations report The 2008 Job Gap: Tough Times forNorthwest Families reveals a widening wage gap in Montana, Idaho and Oregon. In Montana, an estimated 40 percent of available jobs pay less than the $10.95 per hour estimated living wage (based on 2007 data) for a single adult reported New West, a local media outlet. Only 15 percent of job Montana job openings paid at least a living wage for a two parent, one child, one income household. The report's finding are based on job and employment data from 2007 and thus fails to capture the worsening economic conditions of 2008.

The report defines a living wage as "a wage that allows families to meet their basic needs, without public assistance, and that provides them some ability to deal with emergencies and plan ahead. It is not a poverty wage." 

The report urges government, business, labor and communities to increase the numberof jobs that pay a living wage, to provide the education and training required for living wage jobs and to help those without access to living wage jobs.