Press Release
October 16, 2026

UTAH’S EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY: September 2026

SALT LAKE CITY (October 16, 2026) — Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for September 2026 increased an estimated 1.4% across the past 12 months, with the state’s economy adding a cumulative 25,200 jobs since September 2025. Utah’s current job count stands at 1,801,100. 

September’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is estimated at 3.5%, unchanged from its level in August. Approximately 63,200 Utahns are unemployed. The September national unemployment rate is estimated at 4.2%, up a tenth of a percentage point from its level in August.

"Utah’s labor market remains on solid footing," said Ben Crabb, chief economist at the Department of Workforce Services. "Even as employers take a more selective approach to hiring, strong participation among prime-age workers is driving the state’s long-term economic stability.”& amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; lt; /p>

Utah’s September private sector employment recorded a year-over-year expansion of 1.8%, or a 26,600-job increase. Eight of the 10 major private-sector industry groups posted net year-over-year job gains. The overall gains are led by education and health services (8,900 jobs), professional and business services (5,900 jobs), and construction (5,000 jobs). Information (-1,700 jobs) experienced a year-over-year job loss while natural resources and mining remained unchanged from a year prior.

Additional analysis and tables at https://jobs.utah.gov/wi/ update/index.html

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