SALT LAKE CITY — Utah posted the highest job growth rate in the nation for total and private job growth for the seventh consecutive month. According to new data recently released, Utah posted private job sector growth at 4.6 percent and total sector job growth at 4.0 percent.
“Utah’s diverse economy continues to lead the nation,” Gov. Gary Herbert said. “In fact, our state’s strong private sector job growth is twice the national average and a full percentage point higher than the state in second place.”
Here is how Utah compares with the rest of the nation:
- Utah ranked first in the nation for year-over private sector job growth at 4.6 percent. Washington ranked second at 3.6 percent, followed by Florida at 3.6 percent and Oregon at 3.5 percent.
- Utah ranked first in the nation for year-over total job growth at 4.0 percent. Oregon ranked second at 3.5 percent, Washington at 3.3. percent, followed by Florida at 3.1 percent.
- Utah had the sixth-lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 3.7 percent.
Utah’s unemployment rate of 3.7 percent for the month of August was well below the national rate of 5.1 percent. While the Utah unemployment rate increased by a tenth of a percentage point last month, it was accompanied by year-over labor force growth of 2.5 percent. Nine out of ten private sector industry groups posted net job increases.
For more information, visit jobs.utah.gov.
Related posts
- Utah ranks first in nation for job growth for third consecutive month
- Utah unemployment rate drops as job growth holds steady – 2014
- Job growth rates for Washington County and Utah exceed national average – 2013
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Oh I don’t doubt we had job growth here. But what I’d like to see is a comparison of cost of living to wages earned, (including benefits, if any,) for Utah, vs other states.
Utah is in the top ten in the nation in wages compared to cost of living. Our average wages are in the mid range while our cost of living is well down the list. These state-wide figures are heavily influenced by the Wasatch front. St. George’s second home and tourist economy have the lower average wages typical nationwide for this type of economy.
Could you provide a link to back up what you are saying? I’d appreciate it.
DRT, here are some useful links for comparing Utah’s median household income to the national median. Note that we are well above average. Here’s a link to Utah’s cost of living index . Note that Utah’s cost of living is well below the national average. I’m sure there are official government sites where this data could be found but these popped up first.
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Note that Washington County’s average wages
are very low as compared to other counties in the state, hence all the complaining in these comments. The retail and hospitality industries, which make up a very high percentage of our jobs, are low paying compared to many other industries. I suspect folks in those fields in Washington County are paid comparably to those in other Utah counties. But some of the high paying counties have a much larger proportion of professional and manufacturing/mining/oil services jobs. I suspect that Washington County’s cost of living is well below Utah’s average.
“I suspect that Washington County’s cost of living is well below Utah’s average.”
…
i suspect that you are wrong, as usual…
Number 1 in job growth , also number one in minimum wage….
True in St. George, not true on the Wasatch front.
It’s true everywhere
Notice the guy in the picture is a cashier, and that’s is the kind of job growth we need. Respectable enough but doesn’t typically pay enough to be more than a second income. Utah, particularly St. George need more good paying jobs.
The Wasatch front has many “good paying jobs.” St. George has far fewer.
You mention Wasatch front twice having better paying jobs. How does that help St George?
is all the new jobs for grocery check out people?
Only for affirmative-action hiring.
Well there are openings for drug dealers and prostitutes and illegal alien landscapers and a possibility of getting a real newspaper in this town. If they can find a reporter that has actually been out of the state of Utah
Oh there is also an opening for a traffic intersection moderator. LOL.!
TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT.!!
Hmm, I suspect companies are bringing jobs to Utah because we’re willing to work for lower wages. It would be nice to see some of the higher paying companies throw a bone to southern Utah once in a while.
Nope not gonna happen..
Not only lower wages, but practically no benefits. And perhaps “willing to work for lower wages” isn’t exactly right. When low wage jobs are the only thing available and the average Joe has to feed, clothe and house his family, he is going to work those low wage jobs, even if he has to work two or three of them, and his wife has to work, to make ends meet.
True.
well, republicans don’t believe in paying a living wage… so it aint gonna happen. can always move to germany if u don’t like
Comments complaining about Utah wages are off base: see the links I posted in response to DRT above. Complaints about low wages in Washington County are on target: a high proportion of our jobs are in the low-paying retail and hospitality industries. These two fields are lower paying across the country, not just here. Our only saving grace: Washington County’s cost of living is below Utah’s average which in turn is below the national average.
it was the liberal’s fault that the republican Bush II regime collapsed the economy in ’08. I’m not sure how that worked, but since “BIG GUY” said it, it must be true.