Utah's record is impressive when it comes to providing opportunities to work. The state's unemployment rate of 3.2 percent is the lowest in 45 years. In addition, Utah was among the nation's top job producers in 1997 with the creation of 42,000 new jobs, a 4.4 percent growth rate. By comparison, the U.S. average was only 2.2 percent.
This continues a decadelong trend as 1997 marked the 10th consecutive year of job growth greater than 3 percent in Utah. To put that in perspective, the previous longest string of that kind of growth since 1950 was only four years.A key to the laudable numbers has been Utah's ability to adapt to changing times. Unlike in the past, when the state was dependent on a few key industries, such as mining and the military, diversity is now one of the state's strengths. Maintaining that diversity will be paramount in fostering the positive trend as technology ushers in even more changes. The technology impact has already been substantial. Computer services and other businesses, such as telemarketing, grew at a torrid 10 percent pace in 1977.
Glowing statewide figures notwithstanding, how do they benefit the individual job seeker? Again, the pluses far outweigh the minuses. The aforementioned diversity almost guarantees that those dedicated to finding employment in the state can do so.
The initial job may not be the one to base a career on but it at least provides opportunities to earn a paycheck while developing more skills to move up the job ladder.
Not only is there an increasing number of opportunities, there is also a solid trend toward higher wages. Average non-farm annual wages were $25,200 in 1997, up 4.1 percent over 1996, which also had a 4.1 percent increase. It was the third consecutive year in which average pay increases in Utah outpaced inflation.
An average of 33,000 people were out of work this year, about 1,700 fewer than in 1996 and the lowest since 1979's 26,000, which represented 4.3 percent of the work force at that time.
The forecast for this year is slight-ly less optimistic with the jobless figure expected to rise from 3.2 percent to 3.4 percent. Still, a 3.4 percent figure would be the envy of most states.
What it all comes down to is this: For those looking for work, this is the place.