September is Workforce Development Month. Workforce Development Month is all about recognizing that a skilled and adaptable workforce is the backbone of every successful organization. Throughout this month, we invite you to explore initiatives, resources and strategies designed to elevate your team’s capabilities, foster innovation and drive your company’s continued success.

Workforce development programs play a pivotal role in fostering economic growth and development in our ever-changing world. In addition to enhancing competitiveness, workforce development programs promote economic resilience. In a fast-paced job market, individuals need to stay relevant and adaptable to remain employable.

The department’s Workforce Development Division is a great resource offering many services to help businesses be successful. Over the past year (July 2023 - July 2024) we have served 41,122 employers and 853,201 job seekers. To explore data on services provided in your county, click here.

Did you know? 

As Utah’s job connection, the Department of Workforce Services has a team of workforce development specialists to help you explore and invest in creative and proactive solutions for your business that also contribute to the frameworks that develop talent and provide learning opportunities.

An investment in staff development doesn’t necessarily have to mean “classroom” training. These opportunities could include creative solutions such as worksite learning opportunities like on-the-job training, internships and apprenticeships.

Additionally, exploring other ways to fill temporary gaps that job seekers or employees may be experiencing through resources in areas such as transportation, work clothes, equipment or certification renewal fees may provide ways to obtain and maintain your workforce. Opportunities to fill these needs can be found through various avenues such as subsidized wages or other resources for eligible candidates to promote skill enhancement through the programs offered by the Department of Workforce Services or community partners.

The Department of Labor recognizes that businesses in many industry sectors are experiencing work and skill shortages citing the reality of fewer young people available to join the workforce than baby-boomers leaving it.

• Not all mature workers are ready to stop working, and many are seeking new opportunities and careers.
  • To learn more about older Utahns in the workforce click here and consider this untapped talent pool as one of your next creative solutions for labor and talent shortages. 

The Department of Workforce Services is here to assist employers in exploring solutions to meet your workforce needs.

By Michael Jeanfreau,  Senior Economist

In today’s data-driven world, understanding local economic conditions is crucial. However, a significant challenge in workforce data analysis is the occasional lack of detail to address specific questions. Broad trends and patterns can be observed across large regions or groups, but zooming in on smaller areas or particular demographic segments remains difficult. For instance, while general employment trends in a state may be apparent, discerning the nuances of what happens in a small town or among a specific group of workers can be challenging. This gap in detail hampers the ability to tailor solutions or policies that meet the unique needs of these smaller or specific groups. More...