October 2024 | Released November 19, 2024

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In October, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 21.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia and Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in October.

• In October, payroll jobs rose in 21 states and fell in 30. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1 percent in Washington.

Utah Employment Snapshot

• In October, Utah added 4,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Utah added 3,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Utah added 32,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 2.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Utah ranks 12th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In October, Utah’s private sector added 3,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 21,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Utah added 1,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In October, employment in Utah fell by 219, and over the past 12 months it fell by 14,107.

• Utah’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.3 percent in October from 68.4 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.

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Utah Payroll Employment

• Utah added 4,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Utah added 3,000 jobs. Utah nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Utah ranks 12th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Utah added 3,600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Utah added 1,200 jobs. Utah private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs fell by 28,000 jobs in October, or 0 percent. Utah is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during October were Education and Health Services (1,800) and Construction (1,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-900).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (13,200) and Government (11,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,600).

Utah Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Utah fell to 68.3 percent in October from 68.4 percent in the prior month.

• Utah ranks 4th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Utah was 69.7 percent occurring in September 2023, and the 10-year low was 67.4 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in October.