Aerospace and Defense

Targeted Industries

Chanel Flores

Industry Director, Aerospace and Defense 801-200-7432 | cflores@utah.gov

Aerospace and Defense

Utah’s Aerospace and Defense industry is home to multiple large aerospace and defense companies. Core competencies include design, composites manufacturing, software and control systems, sophisticated testing, and repair maintenance. The state’s aerospace industry accounts for more than 950 establishments and over 34,000 jobs.

In 2019, Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) injected nearly $3.7 billion into Utah’s economy. With 22,000 employees, HAFB is Utah’s largest single-site employer, in both total employees and salaries. New programs operating at HAFB include the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) and the F-35 programs. HAFB was awarded the GBSD program, the largest acquisition program in the United States Air Force’s history. The GBSD program is an estimated $86-billion, 20-year effort to replace more than 400 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, requiring hundreds of new jobs over the lifetime of the program.

Initiatives

In conjunction with GOED and the Utah Department of Transportation, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute will analyze aviation-enabled economic development potential in communities driven by strategic airport and community investments.

The Utah Department of Transportation, in conjunction with GOED, EDCUtah, and the University of Utah, among others, has created the Urban Air Mobility working group to establish a framework for safe and effective autonomous aerial transportation.

Outcomes

The Aerospace and Defense industry is composed of 44% federal civilian jobs, 28% professional and technical services, 26% manufacturing, and a small percentage of transportation and warehousing services. There are more than 34,000 jobs in Utah in the Aerospace and Defense industry, with an average annual wage of $79,216.

Challenges and Achievements

Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industries make significant contributions to labor income or earnings. Every dollar of output in A&D generates $0.69 of labor income for workers in Utah. The top 25 A&D industry occupations account for 61% of total sector employment.

Over the past year, Utah companies have expressed concern about the shortage of systems engineers. Collectively, companies across the state have identified hundreds of high-paying job openings that require training and experience in systems engineering.

The Engineering and Computer Technology Initiative remains successful in increasing the number of graduates in targeted areas. Since the initiative began, over 40,000 engineering and computer science degrees have been awarded in the state.

Recent Announcements

— GOED recently announced that Northrop Grumman will expand operations in

Weber County with a plan to add up to 2,250 jobs and $380 million in capital investment over the next 20 years. — GOED also announced a corporate headquarters in Salt Lake for Breeze Aviation, a new company founded by David Neeleman, with plans to create 369 jobs in the next five years.