Deseret News | Utah labor market is 2nd in U.S.

Reader comments
Utah labor market is 2nd in U.S.

HMMMM | 3:39 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008

But where is it as far as pay goes? 49th?

Bob G | 4:51 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008

So Utah has jobs, so what? These jobs are substandard in pay and benefits and too many with jobs require subsistance welfare to live here. Just because we have low income jobs does not make Utah a good place to work and live. The illegals make up a large portion of the job market and welfare claimants. This does not mean by any measure that our economy is in good shape and growth is just as diminished here as in the rest of the country. Utah needs business to bring income to at least meet poverty level living standards. The problem with this Right to Work state is that it prevents works from organizing to demand better pay, safer working conditions, and at least some limited benefits. This law implies benefits for workers when it is actually a shield for employers to hide behind and keep Utah workers in poverty with low pay, no benefits, and no workers rights. Working conditions and pay are all set by employers who have total control with the ability to dimiss any worker for no reason at any time with no justification and falsification of personnel records.

Labor Unions? | 8:19 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008

In this article, they are attributing the lack of labor unions, or euphemistically called "Right To Work State" as the catalyst for Utah's great economy. Then they mention that North Carolina has a smaller union influence that Utah. The question is: If a lack of labor unions is the reason for good economies, why didn't North Carolina's economy outperform Utah's economy? In fact, North Carolina's economy was mediocre at best. I think this is just another ploy by anti-union forces to provide the public with misguided interpretations of the impact of unions in America. Since unions have declined in influence, wages have become stagnant and outsourcing has continued at an even greater pace. That is something this article conveniently failed to mention. The article is equating full employment to to a great economy, leaving out the "high wage" component. Yes, we could all be working for minimum wage, but I would hardly call that a great economy.

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 9:01 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008

SURE TELL THAT TO ALL THE REALTORS, LOAN OFFICERS, BUILDERS AND OTHER SELF EMPLOYED OR COMMISSION BASED WORK FORCE THAT CANNOT FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT.

OVER THE PAST DECADE MOST OF THE JOB CREATION WAS IN THE FIELDS DOMINATED BY SELF EMPLOYED.

Inaccurate numbers donï¿½t tell the whole TRUTH.

Stewart | 10:39 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008

The overall unemployment rate is still very good in Utah because the house construction industry has let their illegal aliens go first. Since they cannot apply for unemployment they are not part of the unemployment numbers. Not to worry though they will be able to move in with others that still have jobs and apply for welfare through their anchor babies. If all of that fails the churches are there for them. When and if things get really tough perhaps fewer illegal aliens will come, and some may even go back to where they came from, saving Utah taxpayers the cost of their support.

CITIZEN | 10:53 a.m. Aug. 30, 2008

Utah is right behind south carolina in the area of abusive worker rights and south carolina is on record as being the worst abuser.working in tenn.in the early 70,s i was making 7.13 per hour w/good benefits.utah is not much above that now over 30 years later.

Anonymous | 3:19 p.m. Aug. 30, 2008

Can this be explained by workers not wanting to live in Utah were they are paid poorly, the climate is miserable and you must be part of the dominate team?

One person told this Utah native that you find many Utahans with degrees earning just above minimum wages.

Utah is a great place to have a business and to exploit your labor.

Garbage | 3:40 p.m. Aug. 30, 2008

Gotta love articles like this. I have been unemployed and there are no decent jobs in Utah to raise a family. My unemployment ran out so I am sure myself and many others are not part of the statistics. I came out of banking so those jobs are scarce and from my experience, there are no real jobs available. Taco Bell here I come! Ya, I have a bad attitude but who wouldn't after being out of real work for over 2 years. I pick up odd jobs here and there to live in poverty so no, I am not too good to work, just would enjoy working a real job sooner than later.

Bunch of whiners | 5:37 p.m. Aug. 30, 2008

Gees, there's a positive article and everybody has to go beat it town. The fact is, Utah does have a great economy. I know my company can't find enough people, but they're also looking for highly-skilled people (who yes, are very well paid).

Seems to me | 5:48 p.m. Aug. 30, 2008

that low unemployment is often connected to low wages - the unemployment figures are low because many people have multiple jobs, the second of which is often a lower-paying, less desirable one. Some people have more than two, because (like Garbage at 3:40 above) the only things they can find are low-paying jobs, and they need multiple incomes to just get by.

John | 6:23 p.m. Aug. 30, 2008

I chose to relocate with my company from the OC in SoCal to SLC last fall and also interviewed with some other companies before deciding to transfer with my Company. There were tons of jobs, all with pretty competitive pay. I didn't even have to take a pay cut to come from CA! But I'm in the accounting industry. I think it all depends on your field. Is the labor supply too large? Does the work you do have barriers to entry (ie a license requirement, degree requirement, technical skills required, etc)?

That's what makes the difference. Did you get into a useful vocation? Or an easy one?

Tom Joad | 7:49 p.m. Aug. 30, 2008

It's easy to judge when you have a job. The self-satisfied are not immune to a worsening economy so watch that ego.

Phony Data | 9:13 p.m. Aug. 30, 2008

This type of economic report is disturbing. For the last 6-7 years we hear how strong Utah's job market is compared to the rest of the country and are told to appreciate that blessing.

First, unemployment percentage and other numbers are notoriously misleading for several reasons -- failing to count long-term unemployed and those only part time and other reasons.

Secondly under Bush this expansionary economy has STUNK. More than 22 Million jobs were created under Clinton, Bush will be lucky to leave office with 5 Million. The Bureau of Labor Statistics documents a need for 150,000 jobs per month to keep up with population increases. Bush is more than 9 million jobs behind, having created only 5 million.

A decent reporter would indicate these problems and inform us if the number of jobs created in Utah are adequate for our increasing population (which is growing faster than the national rate). Not present a misleading impression that it is adequate by comparison to a national rate that is approximately only 1/3 of that necessary to meet out needs.

Phony Data 2 | 9:16 p.m. Aug. 30, 2008

Furthermore, the matter of wages isn't really addressed other than the code phrase of "right to work state" which means average wage is as low as possible.
For decades Utah has had an average wage much less than the national average. Last I heard, about $10,000 per year less. That's with the last few years of the largest home appreciation rate in the country.

It's amazing that locals are willing to keep working so hard for lower than average wages. This is the biggest cause of our immigration problem, unwillingness of employers to pay decent wages for work done. There are hidden costs associated with the lowest bottom line and low wages. It's not always the best economic strategy.

Re: Garbage | 9:43 p.m. Aug. 30, 2008

If you are having a hard time finding a decent job, may I recommend that you find a local LDS employment center (usually located by a Deseret Industries store)? They
Don't care if uou'reMormon or not and have some absolutely fantastic training seminars, which are all FREE! And don't think they can only help you find jobs at McDonald's either. Each year they help several hundred higher income
People find better jobs. In fact, they just started a new program I'm which you can work personally with a job coach in your own profession for those that make over 40K and have had several yes of experience on their field. You ought to try it out.

To Bunch of Whiners | 9:48 p.m. Aug. 30, 2008

I'm curious - what age group does your company hire? Is it made up of mostly the under 40 group? If so your company probably has had a lot of people who were qualified but because of their age (over 40) were not hired.

Guess what - this is age discrimination. I'm also curious - what job field is it that you work for? and how old are you and your supervisor?

Re: To Bunch of Whiners | 12:17 p.m. Aug. 31, 2008

I hate to break it to you, but there's no age discrimination here. I'm in my 30's, my boss in his 40's, and the majority of the people are in their high 30s to high 40s. We have some older too, but they are less common because they tend not to be up on modern programming and engineering. Some of the biggest brains in the company (PhD's, etc) are I think in their 50s.

Like someone said earlier, you have to have marketable profile.

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