The Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana held a conference on Friday to discuss the Treasure State's economic outlook.

Economists are unsure if people working remotely and moving to the state will be a permanent force for growth or if it's a phenomenon that will work itself out in the coming years.

"Residents coming for jobs is part of the whole way of thinking, which is being challenged right now by the loosening of the tether between the workplace and where the worker is," said Patrick Barkey, director of UM's Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Economists also believe 2023's economy will greatly differ from what they've seen in the past due to inflation and the government's efforts to slow economic pace with interest rate hikes.