February 22, 2006
Contact: Curt Stewart 801.526.4315
A special study on job vacancies in the Uintah Basin has just
been released by the Department of Workforce Services (DWS). It is on the DWS
website at: http://jobs.utah.gov/opencms/wi/pubs/jvs2005/.
The Job Vacancy Study, conducted during the fourth quarter of 2005, measures
the quantity and characteristics of vacant jobs in Utah by various geographic
areas. It shows, for that quarter, what occupations were most in demand, which
industries had the most vacant jobs, identifies hard-to-fill positions and identifies
possible labor shortages and/or skill gaps in the labor force.
The response rate was just under 62 percent, representing 2,728 responding employers—private
employers as well as local, state and federal government.
Results of the Job Vacancy Study were grouped into three geographic areas of
Utah: Metropolitan (Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Summit, Morgan, Weber, Davis, Juab
and Salt Lake counties); Southwestern (Iron and Washington counties); and Uintah
Basin (Daggett, Duchesne, Uintah).
Nate Talley, who conducted the survey, says, “This survey gives us a good
look at the current job openings in the Uintah Basin. Job seekers can use it
to see what kind of occupations are vacant, and employers can profile what labor
shortages or skills gaps exist in the labor market. The characteristics of those
openings, as reported by the employers, help us to profile the demands upon
the labor market, and identify possible labor shortages or skill gaps.”
Some highlights from the survey on the Uintah Basin:
Energy-related jobs heavily affected the Uintah Basin region. Both demand and
wages offered are high for such jobs.
Truck drivers and roustabouts were the jobs with the most estimated openings
during the fourth quarter. These two jobs overlap—many employers prefer
roustabouts who are also truck drivers.
The average wage offered to jobseekers in the Uintah Basin is $12.20/hour, which
ties for the highest average wage of the regions included in this year’s
study.
For more information on the Job Vacancy Study, please contact Nate Talley at
801 526-9323.
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