Melissa Anderson, with Community Education News, told the Washington County Commission that Washington County remains one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation and outlined state and local employment statistics and resources for residents.

Anderson said, "Washington County, Utah is still among the fastest growing in the nation with job growth in construction, manufacturing, and hospitality." She reported a 3.6% employment growth rate for Washington County, compared with roughly 1% growth statewide and nationally, and noted that Utah's unemployment rate was 3.2% versus the national rate of 4.1%.

The description mattered because local job growth affects workforce needs and service demand. Anderson said leisure and hospitality and manufacturing were among the county's larger employers and that Utah's economic diversity has helped keep unemployment relatively low. She also said that despite federal layoffs nationwide, Utah has been largely spared: "There are about 41,000 federal employees in the state, and over half of those are at Hill Air Force Base, which has not seen any cuts over the year." Anderson added that there were 245 unemployment claims by federal employees statewide in the past month.

Anderson summarized services available through Workforce Services of Utah, saying the department offers job search assistance, training programs and unemployment insurance. "There are a lot of really good resources at the department," she said, and noted that unemployment benefits can last for up to 26 weeks. She also said the department's site currently lists about 35,000 job postings and that job seekers can work with employment counselors to apply and prepare resumes.

Remarks at the meeting were informational; no formal action, motion or vote was recorded on workforce policy or programs during the segment. The presentation served to update commissioners and the public on local labor-market conditions and on where residents can find employment and benefit services.

County residents seeking assistance were directed to Workforce Services of Utah for job postings, counseling, training programs and unemployment insurance information.