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SALT LAKE CITY — The Beehive State continues to be among the best places in the nation for jobs, according to the latest jobs report.
The state Department of Workforce Services reported Friday that Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for November grew by an estimated 2.9 percent, adding 43,000 jobs to the economy since November 2017.
For the month, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged from the prior month, registering at 3.2 percent. The national jobless rate was also unchanged from last month at 3.7 percent.
“Utah’s job growth continues to exhibit some softening as the year-over growth declines a few tenths of a percentage from prior months,” said Workforce Services chief economist Carrie Mayne. “Work opportunities remain plentiful, however, so the slight slowing may be due to the prolonged low unemployment rate as tight labor supply can restrain potential job growth.”
Currently, an estimated 1,542,600 Utahns were gainfully employed during the month, while approximately 50,000 residents were without work and actively seeking employment, DWS reported.
Private sector employment grew by 3 percent year-over with the addition of 37,200 positions, she added.
The report stated that eight of the 10 private sector industry groups measured in the establishment survey posted net job increases in November. The two outliers were natural resources and mining, which lost 100 jobs over 12 months, and the information industry, which lost 400 positions year-over-year.
The largest private sector employment gains occurred in trade, transportation and utilities, which added 14,500 new jobs; education and health services adding 6,400 positions; and manufacturing adding 5,600 jobs. The highest employment growth happened in trade, transportation and utilities, up 5.1 percent; manufacturing rising 4.3 percent; and other services up 3.8 percent.
