By Gwen Kervin, Regional Economist

When analyzing the profile of women in the workforce, economists often point to a wage gap between men and women. Such a gap is calculated by dividing the median female wage by the median male wage. The median is considered a better measure of the central tendency than averages, which can skew on the high or low end. 

There are several datasets which can be selected for comparison, but this analysis will utilize the Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. It shows that nationally, adult women who work full-time earn approximately 81% of what their male counterparts earn. Looking at Utah, the ratio drops to 72%. Note that seasonal and part-time workers are excluded from these estimates as they introduce variability between the gender measures. Only full-time employment is used as it produces the identical standard needed for the uniform measure.   More...

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, Apprenticeship Utah and the Department of Workforce Services hosted the first annual Apprenticeship Utah Summit on November 15, 2022 at the Weber State University Davis campus in Layton. More than 100 employers in 10 different industries gathered in-person to learn about the benefits of adding or expanding apprenticeships within  their organizations. An additional 27 people attended virtually. Attendees had the opportunity to network with other organizations to share what they've learned from implementing apprenticeships. More...

 By Michael Jeanfreau, Regional Economist

What is the Great Resignation?

Through almost half of 2021 (1), a record number of Americans quit their jobs. This mass movement of workers has been called “The Great Resignation.” Anthony Klotz, an associate professor of management at Texas A&M University, originally used the term in an article when he predicted the exits back in May 2021 (2). After more than a year of uncertainty, rapid changes in the work environment and adjustments to new social norms caused Klotz to speculate that there were “pent-up resignations that didn’t happen over the past year,” and that there would be a reckoning later in the year. More...