Utah’s natural resource endowments and its past cultivation of urban and suburban open spaces will likely continue to spur population growth in the future. As a result, additional stress will be placed upon existing endowments. Doing nothing in the coming years threatens to decrease the quality of life that Utahns – both newcomers and long-timers alike – have come to expect and value. This report provides an understanding of why open space is important, looks … Continued

Highly Productive. Nationally Recognized. Exceedingly Vital. Our work in 2022 is guiding policy leaders. We have made a direct impact on housing policy. We are shedding bright new light on Utah’s social fabric, understanding police recruitment and retention, pushing energy efficiency, opening opportunities for post-secondary education, informing infill development, and tracking Utahns’ quality of life. We participated in conferences, hearings of public bodies and symposia, and met with dozens of civic leaders and elected officials. … Continued

The Utah Foundation has written about happiness. In fact, the Utah Foundation’s Personal Quality of Life survey includes a question asking respondents if they “are happy.” While many Utahns report that they are content, the 2022 Quality of Life project shows that financial concerns are drawing down Utahns’ quality of life – from their perceptions of their communities to their own personal well-being. That takes us to misery. The 2022 Utah Misery Index: A Glimpse … Continued

Businesses in Utah have for years reported that they have difficulty finding enough skilled employees to meet their needs. In a 2018 survey, the Utah Foundation found that this difficulty was the top issue “holding businesses back.” But this problem is not unique to the private sector. Local and state governments face a similar challenge, particularly in filling law enforcement positions. It seems to have become even more acute in recent years. This report highlights … Continued

Filling in the Blanks: How Utah Communities Can Deploy Infill Development to Advance Quality of Life, addresses the development of vacant or underutilized land within existing communities. It examines trends, the potential benefits of additional infill, obstacles standing in the way, and policy options to support infill development.   KEY FINDINGS OF THIS STUDY Multiple factors are now converging in Utah to make infill more imperative, including rapid growth, rising housing costs and changing residential … Continued

The 2022 Utah Personal Quality of Life Index: Is the Well-Being of Utahns in Decline? is the second report in the 2022 Utah Quality of Life project. This report focuses on personal quality of life – based on a survey where Utahns rate their well-being on a series of seven factors. In this report, the Utah Foundation: compares 2022 data with the 2018 iteration of the survey; analyzes responses by population group; compares Utahns’ personal … Continued