WORKFORCE HIGHLIGHTS
The U.S. Census Bureau projects that Utah’s labor force will increase at twice the national average between 2003 and 2030. Utah is a right-to-work state, with only 6.2 percent of employees affiliated with unions. Intermountain Health Care is Utah’s largest private employer. Utah ranks second in the nation for the percentage of households with computers. Utah ranks fourth nationally for the overall health of its work force, according to the United Health Foundation. Utah’s unemployment rate for March 2004 was 5.0 percent, compared to the national rate of 5.6 percent.
One of the greatest advantages Utah offers employers is the quality of its growing work force. CEOs of major companies that have relocated operations to Utah during the past several years report productivity increases of 15 to 30 percent at their Utah facilities, due to the work ethic and good health of the state’s populace. According to the United Health Foundation, Utah ranks fourth nationally in terms of overall health. Utah has the fewest smokers per capita of any state, and the risk for heart disease is 19 percent below the national average. The state’s workers are also well educated. Utah ranks fourth in the nation in the percentage of its students that finish high school and enjoys a high literacy rate. (See the Education profile in this book.) The technology savvy of Utah’s workforce is evident in the fact that the state ranks second in the nation for the percentage of households with computers (according to Sourcebook 2003). Utah’s workforce is also one of the most multilingual in the nation. According to the state’s International Business Development Office, over 50 languages are taught at Utah universities, over 130 languages are spoken in the state and many of Utah citizens have experience living and working abroad. The deep exposure of Utah’s populace to many languages and cultures greatly enhances the readiness and ability of Utah-based companies and divisions to operate in an increasingly global economy. Employers in Utah can anticipate a young, growing, indigenous labor supply for the foreseeable future. (See the Population profile in this book.) Utah has the highest birthrate
12 UTAHFACTS 2004
