Fast-growing Montana tech firms expect to add more 1,200 new jobs in 2018, but some firms in the state already employ hundreds of people.

Situated on the top floor of the historic Mary Innes School in Dillon is a technology company that does business internationally with Fortune 500 clients, employs local residents, and has grown 45 percent per year since it opened two years ago in the town known for farming, ranching, and blue-ribbon trout streams.

Recruiting skilled workers is the #1 barrier to growth for Montana high tech and manufacturing firms. Whether hiring software developers, machinists, or lawyers, Montana employers face similar challenges. Based on conversations with members around the state, here are a dozen ways to attract the best talent.