For the third consecutive month, Utah’s unemployment rate for December was reported at 3.5 percent by the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS), while the nation’s jobless rate continued to drop slightly. The U.S. rate ended the year at 4.1 percent, down one-tenth of a point from Novemeber.
DWS also reported that Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for December increased an estimated 2.6 percent since last December. The state’s economy added a cumulative 44,800 jobs in that time and Utah’s current job count stands at approximately 1,790,300.
“Utah’s labor market ended 2024 with strong growth across industries,” said Ben Crabb, chief economist with the Utah Department of Workforce Services. “The decline in job openings dating back to 2022 seems to be leveling off, and the state’s unemployment rate is holding steady. Entering 2025, the state’s labor market is showing resilience and durable growth.”
Utah’s December private-sector employment recorded a year-over-year expansion of 2.2 percent — a 32,800 job increase. Seven of the 10 major private-sector industry groups posted net year-over-year job gains. The overall gains are led by education and health services (up 16,600 jobs), professional and business services (up 7,300 jobs) and construction (up 6,500 jobs). Trade, transportation and utilities (down 4,700 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (down 600 jobs) experienced year-over-year job losses.
Additional employment data tables and analysis, including county unemployment rates, can be accessed at https://jobs.utah.gov/wi/update/index.html.