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SALT LAKE CITY — There is guarded employment optimism in the state's tourism industry.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Utah's leisure and hospitality industry has created more than 10,000 jobs in the past five years. In the face of the recession and Utah's rising unemployment, the hotel industry is showing faith in Utah by continually investing in the state's economic future, said Michael Johnson, executive director of the Utah Hotel and Lodging Association.
The leisure and hospitality industry added 3,500 jobs in Utah in 2010 -U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
In 2010, the leisure and hospitality industry added 3,500 jobs in Utah, putting the number of Utahns working in that sector at 115,200 statewide, a news release stated.
Nationally, Utah ranked second in the nation — behind Texas — in the percentage of growth in leisure and hospitality over the past five years. Since August 2005, approximately 10,900 new jobs have been created in leisure and hospitality in Utah — an increase of 10.45 percent, Johnson said.
The UHTA is a trade organization whose membership is comprised of 140 resorts, hotels, motels, condominiums, RV campgrounds, along with about 50 allied businesses, educational institutions and community associations.
Last year, the Utah economy gained 15,300 jobs overall, with all growth occurring in the private sector. Retail trade services and hospitality are expected to provide some of the 15,000 to 20,000 new jobs that will be added this year, according to DWS senior economist Mark Knold.
When many other industries are cutting jobs the tourism industry continues to add jobs in Utah, Johnson said.
E-mail: jlee@desnews.com
