Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for June 2019 grew by an estimated 3.0 percent, adding 45,200 jobs to the economy since June 2018. Utah’s current employment level registers 1,561,400. May’s year-over job growth rate was revised up from 2.9 percent to 3.0 percent.
June’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 2.8 percent is down from May’s 2.9 percent. A year ago, the unemployment rate was 3.1 percent. Approximately 45,500 Utahns were unemployed and actively seeking work during the month. The national unemployment rate ticked up one percentage point to 3.7 percent.
“The Utah economy remains strong and continues to absorb and employ labor at a fast pace,” reported Mark Knold, Senior Economist at the Department of Workforce Services. “The unemployment rate has lowered to 2.8 percent, the lowest in more than 12 years. It is remarkable that Utah can still grow the employment base by 3.0 percent given this extremely tight labor market.”
Utah’s private sector employment grew by 3.2 percent year-over with the addition of 40,200 positions. All 10 of the private sector industry groups measured in the establishment survey posted net job increases in June. The largest private sector employment increases were in Education and Health Services (9,900 jobs); Professional and Business Services (8,600 jobs); and Manufacturing (6,300 jobs). The fastest employment growth occurred in Education and Health Services (5.0 percent); Manufacturing (4.7 percent); and Information (4.4 percent).
