The Department of Workforce Services has released the latest data on employment. Employment increased by 3.7 percent over the last 2 years with the state’s economy adding 59,200 jobs in that time. Counties in northeastern Utah also saw an increase over the last 2 years though not by as much. Uintah County employment increased by 154 with employment in December 2021 reaching 12,924. Duchesne County employment increased by 21, reaching 7,888. Daggett County employment increased by 27, reaching 374. “As Utah’s economy progressed through 2021, the most striking theme was dwindling labor availability,” shares DWS Chief Economist Mark Knold. “Each month the unemployment rate moved lower and lower, finally sinking last month into historic territory. The state’s unemployment rate is now below 2.0% for the first time ever. This is uncharted territory in terms of such a low unemployment rate and gauging how much lower it can conceivably go.” Utah’s unemployment rate dropped to 1.9 percent with national unemployment registering at 3.9 percent.
