HELENA, Mont. -- The owner of a fast food joint in Montana's booming oil patch found himself outsourcing the drive-through window to a Texas telemarketing company, not because it's cheaper but because he can't find workers.

Record low unemployment across parts of the West has created tough working conditions for some business owners.

John Francis, who owns the McDonald's in Sidney, Mont., said he tried newspaper ads and even offered $10 an hour to compete with higher-wage oil field jobs. "I don't know what the answer is," he said. "There's just nobody around that wants to work."

Jobless rates have been as low as 2 percent this year in Montana, and nearly as low in neighboring states. Economists cite an aging work force and booming tourism economy for the tight market.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports the mountain West region -- covering eight states along the Rocky Mountains -- has the lowest U.S. unemployment rate, with a low of 3.4 percent in May.

The effects are everywhere. Logging equipment in Idaho sits idle as companies have a tough time finding workers. A shortage of lifeguards forced Helena to shorten hours at children-only pools.

Established baby boomers, including retirees, have been moving into Montana, bringing with them money for new homes that fuel construction job growth, said economist Larry Swanson, director of the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West at the University of Montana.

Along the way, younger people have moved away searching for bigger paychecks. Now, the aging work force is unable to expand to meet the demands of the job market, Swanson said.

He said the problem is compounded by the fact employers have been slow to boost salaries. The silver lining for workers is that wages now are growing at the third-fastest rate among U.S. states.

The problem could get worse as more baby boomers retire, Swanson said. By 2030, Montana and Wyoming are predicted to have among the oldest populations in the U.S, with about 26 percent of residents 65 and older, he said.