Utah will add 37,000 new jobs this year, and the job leaders are in trades taught by the Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College. The star performer will be construction which will add 10,000 new jobs. “We have three main categories where we can’t graduate student fast enough. No. 1 is construction,” said Rhonda Boren, director of marketing and economic development for the College. “Electricians, cabinet makers, whatever it is, there are a lot of new construction jobs out there.” The other two categories include health care workers and manufacturing jobs.

Utah’s growth will be approximately double the national average and should remain steady through 2006. Construction accounted for 23 percent of all new jobs in Utah in 2005 according to the Department of Workforce Services. The hot housing market has been driving most of the growth, but health care workers are also in high demand. Boren said local shortages of nurses and other medical personnel will keep these jobs growing for many years.

Manufacturing grew at a slower rate, but machinists, welders and other manufacturing workers are still highly sought after, according to Ron Kusina of the Weber Economic Development Corp. Boren added that, “The number one thing bringing companies here is our skilled work force, but at the same time, a lack of skilled workers in the trades is keeping us from reaching our full potential.”

DWS indicates that 78% of the jobs in Utah do not require a bachelor degree, although more education tends to increase pay. People who have an associate’s degree or certificate such as those available from the OWATC receive 35% more money than those with only a high school education. “Everyone thinks they need a four-year degree, but unless we can educate more people in the trades, our economy will stop growing,” Boren said.” Average wages in Utah increased 3.8 percent in 2005 which kept real income in line with inflation.