Report: Utah Short on Qualified Workers, Wage Increase and Training Programs Could Help

May 03, 2017 (Utah Business)

Utah’s incredibly low unemployment rate has a dark side: companies, especially those in skilled trades, are having a tough time filling open positions.
The problem is a complex one, but the bottom line is that multiple organizations need to work together to solve it in order for Utah to keep thriving, according to a new report from the Utah Foundation.
Utah’s unemployment rate is extremely low—3.3 percent—and its underutilization rate is also far below the long-term average, at about 7 percent, said Christopher Collard, a research analyst with the Utah Foundation and the author of the report “Help Wanted: Workforce Participation, Wages, Job Desirability and Skills Gaps.” Meanwhile, he said, companies have openings that are sitting vacant.
“Companies can either recruit outside the state—the government could help by offering tax breaks for relocation incentive packages,” he said. “The other option is to aim to increase Utah’s labor force participation rate. … There is potential for companies to entice people to come back to work.”

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