SALT LAKE CITY — The latest data shows Utah's unemployment rate dropped again, and remains less than half the national rate.
WATCH: Utah to end participation in COVID-19 unemployment benefits
State numbers from April show Utah's unemployment rate is estimated at 2.8%, while the rate stood at 6.1% in the U.S. during the same time frame. In March, the state's rate was 2.9%.
Overall, the state added 35,600 jobs since April 2019, almost a full year before the pandemic began.
“Evaluating this year’s open economy against last year’s partially-closed economy does not illuminate Utah’s underlying economic progression. We will be better served comparing the current economy against two years ago; a time before the COVID-19 distortions," said Mark Knold, Chief Economist at the Department of Workforce Services.
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State officials said eight of Utah's 10 major private-sector industry groups posted job gains over two years, including:
- Professional and Business Services: 15,700 jobs
- Construction: 11,900
- Trade, Transportation and Utilities: 9.800
- Financial Activities: 8,800
Only the Leisure and Hospitality sector and Natural Resources lost jobs in the two year time frame.
