Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for February 2019 grew by an estimated 2.8 percent, adding 42,400 jobs to the economy since February 2018. Utah’s current employment level registers 1,536,300. No revisions were made to January’s job growth rate.
February’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point from the prior month to 3.0 percent. Approximately 48,300 Utahns were unemployed during the month and actively seeking work. The national unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point from last month to 3.8 percent.
“Over the past several years Utah’s economy has enjoyed moderate, sustainable growth,” reported Carrie Mayne, Chief Economist at the Department of Workforce Services. “February’s numbers show a continuation of this trend, with healthy job growth and low unemployment.”
Utah’s private sector employment grew by 3.1 percent year-over with the addition of 38,500 positions. Eight of the 10 private sector industry groups measured in the establishment survey posted net job increases in February, while Other Services showed no change and Construction lost 300 jobs year-over. The largest private sector employment increases were in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (10,400 jobs); Leisure and Hospitality (8,700 jobs); and Education and Health Services (6,100 jobs). The fastest employment growth occurred in Information (7.4 percent); Leisure and Hospitality (6.0 percent); and Natural Resources (4.4 percent).
