Utah's unemployment rate unchanged at 3.4%


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SALT LAKE CITY — The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Utah remained unchanged from the prior three months to register at 3.4 percent for the month of April.

The state Department of Workforce Services reported Friday that about 49,700 Utahns were unemployed and actively seeking work. The nationwide unemployment rate declined slightly to 5.4 percent in April — down from 5.5 percent in the previous month.

Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for April 2015 grew by an estimated 4 percent, adding 52,500 jobs to the economy compared to April 2014. The state’s current employment level registered at 1,347,700 workers.

The department reported that eight of the 10 private sector industry groups measured in the establishment survey posted net job increases in April compared to the same period last year.

Fastest job growth
  • Construction, up 7.2%
  • Leisure and hospitality, up 6.2%
  • Trade, transportation and utilities, up 5.4%

The largest private sector employment increases were in trade, transportation and utilities, which added 13,500 jobs; professional and business services added 8,800 new positions; with leisure and hospitality adding 8,000 jobs.

In contrast, other services showed no job growth, while natural resources and mining decreased by 600 positions, the report stated.

Meanwhile, the fastest job growth occurred in construction, up 7.2 percent; leisure and hospitality, up 6.2 percent; and trade, transportation and utilities, up 5.4 percent.

“Our state’s economy is growing at a steady and robust pace,” said Carrie Mayne, department chief economist. “Thus far in 2015, the number of unemployed has remained under 50,000 and an average of 53,000 jobs has been added per month.”

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Jasen Lee

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