By James Robson, Senior Economist

Dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two and a half years has been a singularly difficult historical and societal event with significant death, sickness and uncertainty. This pandemic dealt Utah, our Nation, and the World, the sharpest and most sudden widespread employment declines and severe economic disruptions in recent memory. Yet Covid-19 notwithstanding, essential economic activities had to continue whether there is a pandemic or not. Basic needs of food, shelter, utilities, healthcare, transportation and security must be maintained. Some activities migrated into homes through a teleworking format, while other activities could continue as is with relatively minor adjustments. There were other pursuits that could not make these adjustments and suffered from lingering COVID-19 impacts. However, one industry in Utah, that operated throughout the pandemic at quite normal or even high levels of employment, was construction. More...

SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 21, 2022) — Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for September 2022 increased an estimated 3.5% across the past 12 months, with the state’s economy adding a cumulative 56,100 jobs since September 2021. Utah’s current job count stands at 1,681,300.

September’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate is up one-tenth of a percentage point to 2.1%. Approximately 36,200 Utahns are unemployed. The September national unemployment rate lowered two-tenths of a percent to 3.5%. More...

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 29, 2022) — Every year the Utah Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and their partners honor people and businesses with the Golden Key Award. Presented today at the Disability:IN Utah Summit, these awards recognize those who have helped promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities. More...