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SALT LAKE CITY — More Utahns are joining the hunt for new jobs across the state.
The Utah Department of Workforce Services reported Friday that the state’s nonfarm payroll employment for March 2016 grew by an estimated 3.3 percent, adding 44,400 more jobs to the economy compared to March of 2015. Utah’s current employment level registered at 1,405,400.
For the month, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly by one-tenth of a percent from February to register at 3.5 percent. The report indicates that approximately 51,400 Utahns were considered unemployed and actively looking work.
Nationally, the jobless rate also inched up one-tenth from last month to register at 5 percent.
“Momentum in Utah’s labor markets continues to propel our state’s economy,” said DWS chief economist Carrie Mayne. “The slight uptick in the number of Utahns actively seeking work is likely due to favorable economic conditions drawing people into the labor market who were not there before.”
The report showed that eight of the 10 private sector industry groups measured posted net job increases in March compared to the same period last year. The only sectors to lose workers were Natural Resources and Mining, which was down 1,400 jobs, and Other Services, which is down 1,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, the top private sector employment increases were in Leisure and Hospitality, up 9,800 jobs; Trade, Transportation and Utilities, which added 9,400 positions; along with Education and Health Services, which added new 9,300 jobs. The fastest job growth occurred in Leisure and Hospitality — up 7.4 percent, Construction — up 6.3 percent, and Financial Activities — up 5.3 percent.
Mayne said job growth is expected to continue in the coming weeks through the summer.
"We're going to see more of the (growth) we're seeing now. We will see people come back to the labor force because wages are looking really good," Mayne predicted. "(Wages) have been a little slow to come back with this economic recovery, but word is getting out to job seekers. So where they once were not looking for work, they are looking for those jobs now." 
