Utah still adding jobs despite uptick in unemployment

Utah’s unemployment rate inched up by one-tenth of a point to 3.2 percent in May, according to figures released last week by the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

But the economy continues to add jobs, growing by 44,500 nonfarm positions over the past year, the report said. The number of new jobs translates to a 3.1 percent growth rate. Approximately 1,467,900 Utahns currently hold jobs while 50,800 were actively seeking work in May.

“Utah’s labor market continues to expand across the vast majority of business sectors,” said Carrie Mayne, the department’s chief economist. “We are currently in the 83rd month of the state’s longest job market expansion in the last 15 years.”

Nine of the 10 private sector industry groups measured in the May survey posted net job increases when compared to last year, while the natural resources and mining industry decreased by 700 positions.

{mprestriction ids="1,3"}The largest private sector employment increases were in professional and business services (11,800 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (9,400 jobs); and construction (5,200 jobs).

The fastest employment growth occurred in professional and business services (5.9 percent); construction (5.6 percent); and trade, transportation and utilities (3.5 percent).{/mprestriction}