Employment in Utah, for August 2019, grew by an estimated 3.0 percent, adding 45,900 jobs to the economy since August 2018. Utah’s current employment level registers 1,562,500. July’s year-over job growth is revised up one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.7 percent.
August’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate held at 2.8 percent for a third month. Approximately 45,100 Utahns were unemployed and actively seeking work during August. The national unemployment rate is also unchanged at 3.7 percent.
“The Utah economy continues functioning as a strong societal support,” reported Mark Knold, Senior Economist at the Department of Workforce Services. “Job growth remains as one of the nation’s best, and that growth’s scope is extensive across the industrial spectrum. One of the few areas not increasing employment is brick-and-mortar retail establishments due to the rise of e-commerce.”
Utah’s private sector employment grew by 3.4 percent year-over with the addition of 43,400 positions. All 10 of the private sector major industry groups measured in the establishment survey posted net job increases in August.
The largest private sector employment increases were in:
- Professional and Business Services (10,200 jobs)
- Education and Health Services (10,000 jobs)
- Manufacturing (6,300 jobs)
The fastest employment growth occurred in:
- Construction (5.4 percent)
- Natural Resources (5.2 percent)
- Education and Health Services (5.0 percent)
Listen to Senior Economist Mark Knold as he breaks down the August 2019 employment report:
For more information visit our Labor Market Employment Update web pages.
SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 20, 2019) — Following the release of the August 2019 employment numbers for the state of Utah, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows Utah is ranked No. 1 for total job growth in the U.S. at 3.0 percent, tied with Nevada. In addition, Utah is ranked No. 1 for private sector job growth at 3.4 percent. For unemployment, Utah is ranked No. 5 at 2.8 percent, tied with Hawaii.
BLS data shows Utah rankings as follows:
TOTAL JOB GROWTH
(1) Utah – 3.0 percent
(1) Nevada – 3.0 percent
(3) Arizona – 2.5 percent
(3) Florida – 2.5 percent
(3) Washington – 2.5 percent
(6) Texas – 2.3 percent
PRIVATE SECTOR JOB GROWTH
(1) Utah – 3.4 percent
(2) Nevada – 3.0 percent
(2) Washington – 3.0 percent
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
(1) Vermont – 2.1 percent
(2) North Dakota – 2.4 percent
(3) Iowa – 2.5 percent
(3) New Hampshire – 2.5 percent
(5) Utah – 2.8 percent
(5) Hawaii – 2.8 percent
(7) Colorado – 2.9 percent
(7) Idaho – 2.9 percent
(7) Massachusetts – 2.9 percent
(7) South Dakota – 2.9 percent
(7) Virginia – 2.9 percent
*Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.toc.htm