Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for July 2016 grew by an estimated 3.2 percent, adding 43,800 jobs to the economy compared with last July.
The Utah Department of Workforce Services on Friday reported that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined one-tenth of a percent to register at 3.9 percent.
The state’s current employment level registered at 1.41 million workers, while approximately 58,600 Utahns were unemployed in the month and actively seeking work. Nationally, the unemployment rate held steady from June to July at 4.9 percent.
Data indicated that all but one of the 10 private sector industry groups measured in the establishment survey posted net job increases in July over the same period last year. The natural resources and mining sector, the lone outlier, lost 1,000 positions.
Meanwhile, the largest private sector employment increases were in education and health services, which added 8,900 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities, 8,000 jobs; and construction, 6,400 jobs.
The fastest employment growth occurred in construction, up 7.3 percent; financial activities, increasing by 6.7 percent; and education and health services, which climbed 5 percent during the month.
“Strong job growth continues throughout many parts of the state,” said Carrie Mayne, Department of Workforce Services chief economist. “Opportunities abound for job-seekers to find gainful employment in a wide range of career fields.”