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General Foundation
January 29, 2015

Utah a Leader in Job Growth, Education

At a time when many states are still struggling to come out of the Great Recession, Utah has been a leader in rebuilding its economy and laying the foundation for future growth. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Enterprising States 2014 report offered insight into Utah's efforts to build a strong state economy. The Foundation has updated that report with additional detail on the job growth and education initiatives in the Beehive State. 

Utah: Collaboration as the Foundation for Growth outlines the Utah's strength in the areas of job growth, when it comes to high-tech and middle-skill jobs. The report shows that Utah saw 20.9% growth in middle-skill jobs between 2001 and 2014, nearly 11 times the national average and second only to North Dakota. Moreover, the state saw a 77% increase in high-tech job growth between 2004 and 2014.  

Other highlights from the report:

  • Utah has set an example for great statewide cooperation and coalition building with its C2+E2. Under this programs, economic and political leaders work together to create a system that is more than the sum of its parts. 
  • The state is a leader in STEM jobs, ranking 4th among all states in STEM job growth and 13th in STEM job concentration. Between 2004 and 2014, Utah saw double-digit percentage growth in a wide variety of STEM jobs, including a 36% boost in computer occupations and 38% rise in mathematical sciences. The "STEM Utah: Curiosity Unleashed" campaign came from a $2 million investment from the private sector. 
  • Utah ranks 4th among U.S. states in the number of startups seeded. Nearly 11% of all businesses in the state are considered new, according to figures from 2012. 

Read more on Utah and its collaborative approach to education and economic development in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation report Utah: Collaboration as the Foundation for Growth.

Also see our related blog posts, including a Q&A with Utah governor Gary Herbert and business leaders. 

http://issuu.com/mhendrix/docs/utah_enterprising_states_report/1