Utah Job Market 2025: Strong, Diverse & Family‑Friendly
Written By: Connor Anderson
Utah’s economy keeps moving. In 2025, the state posts low unemployment, steady hiring, and broad industry growth. Meanwhile, new residents continue to arrive, and major employers expand. As a result, living in Daybreak puts you close to opportunity—plus parks, schools, and walkable village life.
Jump to:
- 2025 snapshot
- Where jobs are growing
- Population & talent pipeline
- The Daybreak advantage for commuters
- How to use this market intel
- FAQs
2025 snapshot
Key stats at a glance
- Unemployment remains low: Utah’s jobless rate hovered near the low‑3% range in late summer 2025.
- Hiring continues: Utah added thousands of nonfarm jobs in August 2025 alone.
- Momentum held in 2024: Through Q3 2024, Utah led the nation in real GDP growth.
What that means
- Employers compete for talent, especially in engineering, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and software.
- Workers enjoy options—from high‑growth startups to global firms—plus strong quality of life.
Quick context: Utah’s economy grows across many fronts, so it tends to stay resilient even when one sector cools. This broad base helps both job seekers and long‑term homeowners.
Where jobs are growing
Semiconductors & advanced manufacturing
First, chipmaking surges on Utah’s tech corridor. Texas Instruments is ramping production at its Lehi fab and building a second 300mm fab next door. Together, the facilities aim to produce tens of millions of analog and embedded chips each day once fully online. This expansion supports construction, engineering, operations, and supplier jobs across the region.
Aerospace & defense
Next, the aerospace and defense ecosystem—anchored by Hill Air Force Base and firms like Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and L3Harris—continues to invest. In 2023 alone, Utah’s defense industry supported more than 170,000 jobs and added over $22 billion to state GDP. In short, this cluster offers stable, high‑skill roles from composites to software and testing.
Life sciences & healthcare innovation
Meanwhile, Utah’s BioHive life‑sciences community keeps expanding. The industry posted strong job growth over the past decade and offers wages well above state averages. In 2025, statewide postings show steady demand for biomanufacturing technicians, quality specialists, and clinical roles.
Software, cloud & AI
Finally, the Silicon Slopes software scene continues to hire, with AI skills in especially high demand. Salt Lake City ranked among national hot spots for AI‑related job postings, and market analyses estimate Utah’s tech job concentration sits far above the U.S. average.
Top 10 States For Jobs
| Rank | State | Job growth YoY | LFPR (SA) | Unemployment (SA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | +3.1% | 57.6% | 4.3% |
| 2 | Hawaii | +1.9% | 60.4% | 2.7% |
| 3 | New Mexico | +1.9% | 57.7% | 4.1% |
| 4 | Utah | +1.7% | 67.6% | 3.3% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | +1.6% | 61.3% | 4.0% |
| 6 | North Carolina | +1.6% | 59.2% | 3.7% |
| 7 | Alaska | +1.5% | 65.2% | 4.7% |
| 8 | Idaho | +1.5% | 63.1% | 3.7% |
| 9 | Texas | +1.4% | 64.7% | 4.1% |
| 10 | Ohio | +1.4% | 62.5% | 5.0% |
Population & talent pipeline
Utah keeps attracting people. By mid‑2024, the state passed 3.5 million residents and grew about 1.5% year‑over‑year. Notably, net migration and natural increase each contributed roughly half of that growth. In practical terms, employers gain access to both newcomers and homegrown graduates.
- Universities fuel skills: The University of Utah, Utah State, BYU, UVU and other schools supply engineering, health, and business talent.
- Regions to watch: Salt Lake and Utah counties account for much of the state’s growth and new housing.
The Daybreak advantage for commuters
- Ride TRAX: The UTA Red Line connects Daybreak to the University of Utah and Downtown—no parking hunt required.
- Reach major job hubs fast: Mountain View Corridor, Bangerter Highway, and I‑15 put Lehi, Salt Lake City, and the westside business parks within easy reach.
- Work‑life balance: After work, swap traffic for trails, paddle Oquirrh Lake, or walk to Downtown Daybreak.
See how walkability works in Daybreak
How to use this market intel
- Match your skills to clusters: Semiconductor? Look near Lehi and the south Salt Lake County corridor. Aerospace? Consider northward commutes toward Hill AFB. Life sciences? Track BioHive employers along the Wasatch Front.
- Plan your commute now: Map TRAX stops and road access from each village so you can start strong on day one.
- Tour model homes: Compare layouts for a dedicated office, EV charging, and storage for outdoor gear.
FAQs
Is Utah still creating jobs in 2025?
Yes. Utah added jobs in August 2025 and maintained one of the nation’s lower unemployment rates.
Which industries look the strongest?
Semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, life sciences, and software/AI show durable demand going into 2025–2026.
Where are people moving?
Population growth remains concentrated along the Wasatch Front—especially Salt Lake and Utah counties—supporting a deep labor pool for employers.
