Largest Public Employer - Utah State Government 16,500

Largest Private Employer - Brigham Young University 15,000

Utah is a right-to-work state, with less than 5% of manufacturing employees affiliated with unions. (National Business Development, unpublished survey, 1996) The quality of the labor market in Utah is enhanced by the highest literacy rate in the U.S. (See Education above) Employment by sector (1994)Services 26%Trade 24%Government 19%Manufacturing 14%Transportation/Communication 6%Construction 6%Unemployment 3.7% Information courtesy of Utah State Historical Society



Utah Business Information and Research Services -
www.dced.state.ut.us/birs.htm
Useful economic and demographic data on Utah and its regions to businesses, other organizations and individuals.

The 2000 Economic report to the Governor -
www.governor.state.ut.us/dea/publications/00ERG/00erg.html
A popular annual publication of the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, this is a comprehensive analysis of Utah's economy and projections for the future. Lots of graphs and tables.

Utah Division of Business and Economic Development -
www.dced.state.ut.us/busdev/
The Department of Community and Economic Development has compiled helpful resources for business development in Utah. Information about how to start a business, learn what regulations business owners must follow, or get current information on Utah's business climate.

Infosearch Utah Bizlist -
www.utahbizlist.com/
Utah BizList(sm) is a free online business directory. Links to most of Utah's business sites.

The Utah Business Advisor -
www.dced.state.ut.us/nav/welcome.htm
The Utah Business Advisor is an online advisory service that shows Utah companies how to locate and use government services and programs to grow and expand their business.

Utah Department of Commerce -
www.commerce.state.ut.us/
Utah Department of Commerce is the licensing and registration agency for Utah's professional and corporate community.

Utah Job Bank -
ut.search.org/
A searchable database of Utah jobs.

Utah Employment -
www.e-utah.org/working/employment.html
Official Utah State Employment Website

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This overview was prepared by the Utah Department of Community and Economic Development.

Utah's economy continued to perform well in 1999, but once again the pace of growth has slowed. The rate of job growth has fallen gradually since 1994, from a peak of 6.2% to 2.6% in 1999. While the projection is for the rate to drop to 2.5% in 2000, overall the economy appears to have stabilized and, barring a national recession, it is expected to remain between 2.5 and 3% for the next few years; despite a potentially rapid deceleration in construction and 2002 Winter Olympics-related activity.

The average annual non-agricultural wage grew 3.6% to $27,400 in 1999. Utah's unemployment rate remained at 3.8% for 1999. With in-migration slowing and the labor force participation rate stabilizing at 72% (compared to the national average of 67%), Utah is essentially at full employment. This is supported by the fact that 1997, with an unemployment rate of 3.1%, coincided with the peak of anecdotal reports of critical labor shortages in almost every Utah industry sector. Utah's population grew to 2,121,000 in 1999, an increase of 38,500 people. This 1.9% annual rate of increase also represents a slowing from the state's trend rate of 2.3% over the past 50 years. This somewhat slower rate of growth is expected to continue for the next several years, before picking up to once again reach the trend rate of 2.3-2.5%.

It is projected that Utah's population will reach approximately 2.7 million in 2010 and over 3.0 million by 2020. During 1999 the state¹s industry mix continued the pattern of recent years, characterized by a structural shift away from natural resource extraction and defense and toward information based and business services industries.

1999 was the 11th consecutive year of strong growth in Utah's construction industry, at 7.0%. Residential construction slowed slightly, but many large nonresidential projects, including the I-15 reconstruction, continue. Manufacturing, contrary to the national trend, grew rapidly during Utah's recent expansion, peaking at 6.2% in 1995. Manufacturing has gradually slowed however, and registered a 1% decline in 1999; the result of flat durable goods exports. However, with the global economy rebounding rapidly from its 1998 trough, manufacturing should resume modest growth.

Transportation, communications, and utilities grew 1.3% as an industry group in 1999, the division's slowest expansion since 1991. Wholesale and Retail trade has slowed dramatically from the 1994-1995 pace of 7% per year, to 2% in 1999. This pace should pick up slightly over the next few years. Finance, insurance, and real estate grew 3.1% in 1999, about its rate over the past decade of Utah's rapid economic expansion. F.I.R.E. is expected to slow to approximately the state average over the next few years.

Services grew 4.1% in 1999. Within this broad industry group computer and other business services continue to grow rapidly while medical, legal, and lodging lag.

Government grew 2.5% in 1999, continuing to catch up after 5 years of below 2% per year growth in the mid-'90s. In general, government employment growth will closely track overall population growth. Utah's defense industry appears to have stabilized, with Hill Air Force Base expected to add between 2,700 and 3,000 new jobs through 2001. In addition, defense spending in Utah increased 1.3%, only the second increase in the past decade. Nevertheless, the defense industry continues to be a declining part of the Utah economy.

The high technology sector overall is growing at approximately 7% per year, twice the state average. However this overall growth masks a great deal of volatility on the part of individual industries within this sector. Aerospace continues its slow decline from its '80s peak and computer hardware manufacturing remains flat. Balancing this, computer software appears to be reviving after a mid-'90s slump, the biomedical sector continues to grow at 10% per year, and the newly emerged automotive components sector remains healthy.

Utah's tourism industry also posted a modest increase in 1999, growing some 2% to an estimated 18.2 million out of state visits. These travelers spent an estimated $4.2 billion in Utah. The travel and tourism industry is currently estimated to support 118,500 direct and indirect jobs in Utah, nearly 11% of total non-agricultural employment. Prepared by the Utah Department of Community and Economic Development.

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