Utah’s job growth and unemployment rate continue to perform much better than comparable national rates, according to the monthly employment report released today by the state’s department of workforce services.

Despite the drag on housing-related industries, the state’s economy remains resilient, especially in the government, health care, and education sectors, Mark Knold, a senior state economist, says. “Yet even cyclical industries like leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing are still growing in the state. Nationally, this is a consumer-lead recession,” he explains. “Job losses undermine the consumer most, while job gains support their strength. Utah’s job gains and the continued outlook for more are the state’s strongest foundation in supporting Utah consumers and why this state has a better chance of staying above the national recession.”

Compared to the nation which is registering only a 0.3 percent growth rate in new jobs, Utah continues to add new positions at a 2.0 percent rate. And, consistent with previous monthly reports, Knold notes that “the approximately 24,800 new jobs in Utah represent about 6.5 percent of all the new jobs added in the United States over the past year, this from a state that comprises less than 1 percent of all United States jobs.”

Some 42,700 Utahns were considered unemployed during April, representing an unemployment rate of 3.1 percent. The nation’s April unemployment rate was 5.0 percent.

There also is evidence that the state can readily absorb new workers. Knold’s following statements are consistent with recent reports by The Brookings Institution and the Pew Charitable Trusts which argue for a revitalized focus on education and training programs for high-skilled jobs. Knold’s money quote follows:

“We still hear of the need for highly skilled workers like engineers in this state. Welders and machinists are also often mentioned. The shortfalls in the latter two occupations are consequences of a long-term national trend. Nationwide, over the past 40 years, manufacturing and production jobs have been downsized and workers replaced by technological advancements. Even though these jobs don’t hold the percentage of the economy that they used to, a generation of labor has aggressively discounted its opportunities and has collectively steered away from its training and potential career possibilities.

“The consequences of that are coming home to roost as the existing pool of these laborers are closing in on retirement en masse. This collective negative psychology and avoidance is now producing a shortage of workers in these often-called middle, yet technical, skill areas. As a result, opportunities are increasing in these skilled occupations that pay a life-supporting wage.”