Utah’s jobless rate remained unchanged in March at 3.1 percent, according to the latest report from the Department of Workforce Services (DWS). That translates to about 48,500 Utahns still looking for work.
Meanwhile, the national unemployment stayed put at 4.1 percent.
Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for March 2018 grew by an estimated 3.3 percent, adding 48,000 jobs to the economy since March 2017. Utah’s currently has 1,501,800 people working.
“The addition of 48,000 jobs to our workforce shows the strength and staying power of Utah’s economy,” said Carrie Mayne, chief economist at DWS. “Holding our unemployment count under 50,000 is evidence of the alignment between our employers’ needs and the skills of our workforce.”
Utah’s private sector employment grew by 3.7 percent year-over-year with the addition of 44,100 positions. Eight of the 10 private sector industry groups measured in the survey posted net job increases in March, while natural resources and mining lost 100 jobs and other services lost 200 jobs.
The largest private sector employment increases were in trade, transportation and utilities (11,400 jobs); leisure and hospitality (7,200 jobs); education and health services (7,000 jobs); and professional and business services (7,000 jobs). The fastest employment growth occurred in construction (5 percent); leisure and hospitality (5 percent); and trade, transportation and utilities (4.2 percent).
DWS also released U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data which show Utah leading the nation for total job growth at 3.3 percent. Utah is also ranked No. 1 for private sector job growth at 3.7 percent, tied with Oregon. The state’s unemployment rate ranks No. 11 in the country.