Utah’s jobless rate stayed steady at 3.6 percent in December, duplicating November’s rate, which was up a couple of tenths of a percentage point from October.
Those numbers point to about 67,300 workers remaining outside the state’s total job count, according to data released by the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS).
Nationwide, the December unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4.4 percent following an adjustment of November’s rate down a tenth of a point to 4.5 percent by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington, D.C.
Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment numbers for December showed a slowing 1.2 percent increase in those holding jobs over the past 12 months. The state’s economy added a cumulative 21,800 jobs since December 2024, bringing the current job count to 1,791,700.
“Utah’s economy remains ahead of the U.S. in job expansion and low unemployment,” said Ben Crabb, chief economist with DWS. “The low unemployment rate indicates the state’s labor market remains strong. However, the decline in the labor force participation rate and the employment-to-population ratio points to fewer people working or looking for work, suggesting some workers are stepping away as the job market cools.”
DWS reported that December private-sector employment recorded a year-over-year expansion of 1.1 percent with a 16,700 job increase over the previous 12 months. Six of the 10 major private-sector industry groups posted net year-over-year job gains. The overall gains were led by the education and health services sector with a 7,400-job growth, while professional and business services gained 5,400 jobs, the financial activities group was up 2,900 jobs and construction added 2,900 jobs. The trade, transportation and utilities sector lost about 4,000 jobs and other services was down 1,100 jobs. Manufacturing (down 500 jobs) and natural resources (down 400 jobs) also experienced marginal year-over-year job losses.
In the past year, public-sector employment grew by 1.8 percent, adding 5,100 jobs despite federal government employment decreasing by 8 percent (down 3,300 jobs).
Additional information and analysis on Utah’s employment situation, including county-by-county statistics, are available at the DWS website, jobs.utah.gov.