BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Utah’s November unemployment holds steady

Dec 22, 2023, 8:37 AM | Updated: 9:08 am

Utah's June jobs unemployment rate stayed steady....

Eloise Schmitt serves lunch to Emma Larsen and her father, Shawn, at Gourmandise in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 8, 2021. (Laura Seitz/Deseret News)

(Laura Seitz/Deseret News)

SALT LAKE CITY — The jobs report for November came out Friday morning and shows an unemployment rate of 2.8%. This is a slight increase over last month’s 2.7% according to the Department of Workforce Services.

Nationally, unemployment sits at 3.7% which is down from September’s 3.9%.

Deputy Director for the Department of Workforce Services, Nate McDonald joined Utah’s Morning News to go over this month’s report. 

“We came out at with a 2% job growth. That’s over 34,700 jobs that we’ve added since November of 2022. So, we’re ending the year standing steady with our job growth right at 2%. It’s slowed down over the past several months, but 2% for the year is still doing well considering where things have been,” said McDonald. 

McDonald noted the one-tenth percent uptick in unemployment. 

“But if you look at where we were before the pandemic, and here we are now with things kind of moderating over the last several months, to be coming to the end of the year, with a 2.8% unemployment. That’s great. Even though there’s been some swings, it’s still we’re still ending the year really strong.”

According to McDonald, the national job growth is just slightly slower than here in Utah. 

“We are still doing well with our industries. Eight of our 10 industries are seeing job growth,” he said.

“The two [industries] that haven’t seen growth is the trade [and] transportation and utilities. They saw over 3,000 job losses. But let’s just put that in perspective,” McDonald continued.

“Back during the pandemic, trade transportation utilities was at the top for so long, and it just was running so hot, so many jobs, so much happening in that industry, that really were just seeing things moderate and come back down to a level of normalcy.”

The travel and leisure industry remains on top and is expected to do so for awhile. 

McDonald said, “…overall good news, we’ll see where things go and 2024.” 

Related:

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Business & Economy

FILE- A large soft drink with a plastic straw from a McDonald's restaurant is shown in Surfside, Fl...

Associated Press

Trump pushes for plastic straws, declares paper ones ‘don’t work’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is moving to reverse a federal push away from plastic straws, declaring that paper straws “don’t work.” Trump signed an executive order Monday, saying: “It’s a ridiculous situation. We’re going back to plastic straws” The move by Trump — who has long railed against paper straws, and whose 2019 […]

5 hours ago

Freshly-made pennies sit in a bin at the U.S. Mint in Denver on Aug. 15, 2007....

Jill Colvin, Associated Press

Trump says he has directed US Treasury to stop minting new pennies, citing rising cost

President Donald Trump says he has directed the Treasury Department to stop minting new pennies, citing the rising cost of producion.

16 hours ago

The U.S. Capitol is seen, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)...

Allessandra Harris Gurr

Privilege tax may be added to the Point of the Mountain

A proposed bill may bring a privilege tax to the Point of the Mountain development.

18 hours ago

Hiring sign is displayed at a health service center in Chicago, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025....

Paul Wiseman, Associated Press

US employers added just 143,000 jobs last month, jobless rate slips to 4% to start the year

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers added just 143,000 jobs last month, but the jobless rate slipped to 4% to start 2025 and the government revised November and December payrolls higher. The first job report of Donald Trump’s second presidency suggested that he inherited a labor market that is solid but unspectacular. Economists had expected about […]

4 days ago

FILE - A Chevron logo is shown at a gas station in San Francisco, Oct. 23, 2023. Gas prices in Utah...

Alton Barnhart

Utah gas prices increased by two cents amid tariff concerns

Utah gas prices have ticked up from last week due to the threat of tariffs, according to the Energy Information Administration. 

4 days ago

FILE - U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talk prior to ...

Mariah Maynes

How will Trump tariffs impact consumers? It depends, but here are estimates

Economists agree that Trump tariffs could have consequences for the economy and American wallets.

6 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Full speed through the snow. A man on skis is pulled by his through the snow at full gallop Skijori...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for an unforgettable skijoring adventure in Bear Lake!

“Skijoring the Bear” takes place this year on February 21-22 in Garden City, Utah.

the bedroom in a geodesic dome shows the night sky...

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon

Your front row to an extraordinary cosmos show

As America's first glass dome stargazing resort, Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon is one of the world’s most unique and spectacular places to stay.

2 people huddled up in a blanket and warm clothes sipping hot chocolate...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

The best ways to spend your Christmas vacation in Bear Lake

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas this year, Bear Lake should definitely be on your radar. Read this guide for more!

big crowd of people under holiday lights in an outdoor market...

Western Nut

Our favorite family Christmas activities in Utah

We gathered up a list of our favorite activities, movies, and treats to try this holiday season that the whole family can enjoy.

an IT tech looks at a laptop in front of a server network...

Comcast Business

Tips to protect yourself from phishing attacks

Check out this resource from Comcast Business to learn more about phishing attacks and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of one.

A surprise gift, wrapped and ready to bring holiday cheer! Whether for Christmas, a birthday, or an...

Western Nut

10 Holiday Gift Ideas to cover everyone on your list

This guide is for you if you need holiday gift ideas that will make a lasting impression. 

Utah’s November unemployment holds steady