By Gwen Kervin, Senior Economist
The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) has identified five strategic industries to help strengthen and diversify Utah’s economy:
Advanced manufacturing
Aerospace and defense
Financial services
Life sciences and healthcare
Software and information technology
Each of these industries directly support skilled, high-paying jobs in the state. In 2024, the targeted industries employed nearly 494,900 people and paid $41.4 billion in wages. This amounts to an average annual wage of $83,713 compared to average wages of $58,059 for other industries. Aside from their direct impact, these targeted industries have ripple effects across the economy, supporting local employers in other industries and encouraging the growth of new businesses. As businesses grow, they require various inputs from suppliers, spurring further economic expansion and creating a virtuous cycle of growth. More...
SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 19, 2025) — Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for August 2025 increased an estimated 1.9% across the past 12 months, with the state’s economy adding a cumulative 33,600 jobs since August 2024. Utah’s current job count stands at 1,774,000.
August’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is estimated at 3.3%. Approximately 61,700 Utahns are unemployed. Utah’s July unemployment rate is unrevised at 3.3%. The August national unemployment rate is up a tenth of a percentage point at 4.3%. More...
SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 15, 2025) — Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for July 2025 increased an estimated 2.3% across the past 12 months, with the state’s economy adding a cumulative 40,300 jobs since July 2024. Utah’s current job count stands at 1,763,600.
July’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is estimated at 3.3%. Approximately 60,517 Utahns are unemployed. Utah’s June unemployment rate is unrevised at 3.2%. The July national unemployment rate is up a tenth of a percentage point at 4.2%. More...