diff --git a/app/task/taskmanager.cpp b/app/task/taskmanager.cpp
index d293d5d65..043ed90bc 100644
--- a/app/task/taskmanager.cpp
+++ b/app/task/taskmanager.cpp
@@ -83,6 +83,16 @@ TaskManager *TaskManager::instance()
   return instance_;
 }
 
+int TaskManager::GetTaskCount() const
+{
+  return tasks_.size();
+}
+
+Task *TaskManager::GetFirstTask() const
+{
+  return tasks_.first().task;
+}
+
 void TaskManager::AddTask(Task* t)
 {
   // Connect Task's status signal to the Callback
@@ -95,6 +105,7 @@ void TaskManager::AddTask(Task* t)
 
   // Emit signal that a Task was added
   emit TaskAdded(t);
+  emit TaskListChanged();
 
   // Scan through queue and start any Tasks that can (including this one)
   StartNextWaiting();
@@ -165,6 +176,7 @@ void TaskManager::DeleteTask(Task *t)
   }
 
   emit t->Removed();
+  emit TaskListChanged();
 
   if (GetTaskStatus(t) != kWorking) {
     // If the task isn't doing anything, we can simply delete it
@@ -205,6 +217,9 @@ void TaskManager::TaskFinished()
   // Decrement the active thread count
   active_thread_count_--;
 
+  // Signal that the task has finished
+  emit TaskListChanged();
+
   // Start any tasks that could start now
   StartNextWaiting();
 }
diff --git a/app/task/taskmanager.h b/app/task/taskmanager.h
index 1a47994db..420847ba7 100644
--- a/app/task/taskmanager.h
+++ b/app/task/taskmanager.h
@@ -51,14 +51,16 @@ public:
    */
   virtual ~TaskManager();
 
-  DISABLE_COPY_MOVE(TaskManager)
-
   static void CreateInstance();
 
   static void DestroyInstance();
 
   static TaskManager* instance();
 
+  int GetTaskCount() const;
+
+  Task* GetFirstTask() const;
+
 public slots:
   /**
    * @brief Add a new Task
@@ -87,6 +89,11 @@ signals:
    */
   void TaskAdded(Task* t);
 
+  /**
+   * @brief Signal emitted when any change to the running task list has been made
+   */
+  void TaskListChanged();
+
 private:
   /**
    * @brief The Status enum
diff --git a/app/window/mainwindow/CMakeLists.txt b/app/window/mainwindow/CMakeLists.txt
index 3c775d116..151883684 100644
--- a/app/window/mainwindow/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/window/mainwindow/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ set(OLIVE_SOURCES
   ${OLIVE_SOURCES}
   window/mainwindow/mainmenu.h
   window/mainwindow/mainmenu.cpp
+  window/mainwindow/mainstatusbar.h
+  window/mainwindow/mainstatusbar.cpp
   window/mainwindow/mainwindow.h
   window/mainwindow/mainwindow.cpp
   PARENT_SCOPE
diff --git a/app/window/mainwindow/mainstatusbar.cpp b/app/window/mainwindow/mainstatusbar.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..54c6453cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/window/mainwindow/mainstatusbar.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#include "mainstatusbar.h"
+
+#include <QCoreApplication>
+
+MainStatusBar::MainStatusBar(QWidget *parent) :
+  QStatusBar(parent),
+  manager_(nullptr)
+{
+  setSizeGripEnabled(false);
+
+  bar_ = new QProgressBar();
+  addPermanentWidget(bar_);
+
+  bar_->setMinimum(0);
+  bar_->setMaximum(100);
+  bar_->setVisible(false);
+
+  showMessage(tr("Welcome to %1 %2").arg(QCoreApplication::applicationName(), QCoreApplication::applicationVersion()));
+}
+
+void MainStatusBar::ConnectTaskManager(TaskManager *manager)
+{
+  if (manager_) {
+    disconnect(manager_, &TaskManager::TaskListChanged, this, &MainStatusBar::UpdateStatus);
+  }
+
+  manager_ = manager;
+
+  if (manager_) {
+    connect(manager_, &TaskManager::TaskListChanged, this, &MainStatusBar::UpdateStatus);
+  }
+}
+
+void MainStatusBar::UpdateStatus()
+{
+  if (!manager_) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (manager_->GetTaskCount() == 0) {
+    clearMessage();
+    bar_->setVisible(false);
+  } else {
+    Task* t = manager_->GetFirstTask();
+
+    if (manager_->GetTaskCount() == 1) {
+      showMessage(t->GetTitle());
+    } else {
+      showMessage(tr("Running %1 background tasks").arg(manager_->GetTaskCount()));
+    }
+
+    bar_->setVisible(true);
+    connect(t, &Task::ProgressChanged, bar_, &QProgressBar::setValue);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/app/window/mainwindow/mainstatusbar.h b/app/window/mainwindow/mainstatusbar.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cc22a8dae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/window/mainwindow/mainstatusbar.h
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#ifndef MAINSTATUSBAR_H
+#define MAINSTATUSBAR_H
+
+#include <QProgressBar>
+#include <QStatusBar>
+
+#include "task/taskmanager.h"
+
+/**
+ * @brief Shows abbreviated information from a TaskManager object
+ */
+class MainStatusBar : public QStatusBar
+{
+public:
+  MainStatusBar(QWidget* parent = nullptr);
+
+  void ConnectTaskManager(TaskManager* manager);
+
+private slots:
+  void UpdateStatus();
+
+private:
+  TaskManager* manager_;
+
+  QProgressBar* bar_;
+
+};
+
+#endif // MAINSTATUSBAR_H
diff --git a/app/window/mainwindow/mainwindow.cpp b/app/window/mainwindow/mainwindow.cpp
index 3541dbd45..110784de1 100644
--- a/app/window/mainwindow/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/app/window/mainwindow/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <QDesktopWidget>
 
 #include "mainmenu.h"
+#include "mainstatusbar.h"
 
 MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent) :
   QMainWindow(parent)
@@ -51,6 +52,11 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent) :
   MainMenu* main_menu = new MainMenu(this);
   setMenuBar(main_menu);
 
+  // Create and set status bar
+  MainStatusBar* status_bar = new MainStatusBar(this);
+  status_bar->ConnectTaskManager(TaskManager::instance());
+  setStatusBar(status_bar);
+
   // Create standard panels
   node_panel_ = PanelManager::instance()->CreatePanel<NodePanel>(this);
   addDockWidget(Qt::TopDockWidgetArea, node_panel_);