New Cedar City Businesses

Several new businesses have opened or will open in Cedar City including Cup of Joe, a drive-thru coffee shop; Noggin Games, which caters to family gaming; The Stork on Main, a baby boutique; Harbor Freight Tools, a California-based hardware store; Hauptstrasse Markt, a German deli and the Courtyard Marriott hotel. The Spectrum

High Economic Value of Quiet Recreation in Southern Utah

Non-motorized (quiet) recreation activities like camping, hiking, hunting, mountain biking and wildlife viewing on public lands are a significant economic driver in local communities near where the recreation activities take place according to a new report by the independent firm ECONorthwest.

The report titled “Quiet Recreation on BLM-Managed Lands in Southwest Utah” shows that in 2015 the 364,000 quiet recreation visits to SW Utah BLM lands generated $17.4 million in direct spending within 50 miles of the recreation sites. The study shows 204 Utah jobs are supported locally as a result of quiet recreation visits to BLM Land.

The report comes as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is updating their resource management plan for the Cedar City Region. The BLM’s Cedar City Field Office in Southern Utah oversees 2.1 million acres of public land within Iron and Beaver counties. This report is the first ever to quantify both the amount of quiet recreation and the spending associated with quiet recreation specifically on BLM lands in this region of Southern Utah. Utah Business Magazine

Sportsman’s Warehouse coming to Cedar City

Sportsman’s Warehouse is expanding its operations to include a new retail location in Cedar City. The Cedar City location will be the ninth Sportsman’s Warehouse store in Utah. The store will be a smaller format store with an anticipated opening in the first half of 2017. These stores will feature an extensive selection of hunting, fishing and camping gear, as well as a wide range of apparel and footwear. As with all Sportsman’s Warehouse locations, the store will also feature instruction, seminars and special events related to outdoor activities. Utah Business Magazine

Washington County Economic Update

April marked the fastest year-to-year nonfarm job growth in Washington County since the end of the recession. While the rate of expansion and slipped back a notch by the end of second quarter, it remained noticeably higher than the 5-percent expansion that has characterized the recovery. Continued growth at this level could signal an overheated economy. Interestingly, several industries actually lost employment. As in most Utah counties, Washington County’s saw its jobless rate increase in the first half of the year only to retreat in recent months. Strong job growth and limited unemployment insurance claims activity suggest that labor force entrants and re-entrants are temporarily inflated the unemployed totals. Construction in both residential and nonresidential sectors is up dramatically compared to last year, while gross taxable sales remained robust.

• Between June 2015 and June 2016, Washington County added almost 4,000 new jobs for a growth rate of 7 percent. 
• Industries making the largest employment contributions included healthcare/social services, construction, retail trade, professional/business services and transportation. 
• Government and real estate actually showed noticeable employment contraction. 
• Washington County showed a brief uptick in joblessness during spring and early summer as workers entered and reentered the labor market. 
• The county's jobless rate as returned to its previous level in recent months, measuring only 3.7 percent in August 2016. 
• New claims for unemployment insurance followed a seasonal pattern in the eight months of 2016 and provide no signs of large lay-offs. 
• Retail trade, professional/business services and leisure/hospitality services (all with seasonal or temporary characteristics) have generated the largest numbers of first-time claims so far this year. 
• Not only did employment increase at a rapid rate, the county’s second quarter 2016 average monthly wage improved by a robust 4.5 percent over the previous year. 
• Both nonresidential and residential permitting increased substantially during the first eight months of 2016. 
• New home permits are up 39 percent over last year, although a portion of the new permits are for much needed apartments. 
• Washington County’s gross taxable sales increased by a robust 8 percent between the second quarters of 2015 and 2016. 
• Retail sales proved particularly strong with auto dealers leading the way. In addition, tourism-related accommodations and food service sales increased decidedly.

Kane County Economic Update

Kane County job growth eased back a bit in second quarter, but still remained moderate. Job losses in a few industries cooled overall expansion. Despite employment expansion and the lack of unseasonal unemployment insurance claims activity in the first half of the year, joblessness edged up slightly during spring and early summer as workers entered or reentered the labor market. However, joblessness has retreated in recent months. Nonresidential construction permitting has surged in 2016, while the value of newly permitted homes slipped. However, a good labor market performance combined with strong sales expansion points to a healthy Kane County economy.

Kane County’s nonfarm employment increased by 2.6 percent between June 2015 and June 2016, adding nearly 100 net new jobs. 

The major industries were split into job-gaining and job-losing camps with mining, construction, manufacturing and financial activities making the strongest games. 

The largest job –losing industries included leisure/hospitality services and government. 

As in many Utah counties, joblessness in Kane County has crept up in spring and early summer only to decline in recent months. 

At 3.8 percent (August 2016), the county’s unemployment rate remains low. 

First-time claims for unemployment insurance seem to be following a seasonal pattern with no cyclical disturbances. 

The seasonal leisure/hospitality services industry has generated the highest number of new claims so far in 2016. 

However, construction, retail trade and mining also showed a significant number of claims. 

After a lull in wage growth earlier in the year, Kane County produced a strong 4.6 year-to-year change in its average monthly wage in second quarter 2016. 

The permitting of hotels/motels, a professional building and a retail establishment helped drive up Kane County nonresidential construction values for the first eight months of 2016. 

However, while the number of newly permitted home is up, the value of those permits dropped substantially from 2015. 

Gross taxable sales jumped up 10 percent between the second quarters of 2015 and 2016. 

A dramatic increase in sales in the accommodations industry proved the primary factor in this very strong expansion.

Iron County Economic Update

Iron’ County’s labor market heated up in the second quarter of 2016. Keep in mind that this scorching level of job growth is not sustainable and should be watched for signs of overextension. Also, several industries experienced job losses. Nevertheless, the current employment gains mark a welcome respite from earlier years. As in most Utah counties, joblessness ticked up in spring and early summer only to subside in recent months. The county’s rate remains virtually unchanged from August of last year. First-time claims for unemployment insurance showed an unseasonal increase earlier in the summer (contributing to higher joblessness), but have since abated. Construction permitting is down from last year, but only because permitting in 2015 measured unusually high. Gross taxable sales rounded out this bright economic picture with a health performance.

• Iron County added nearly 1,100 new jobs between June 2015 and June 2016 for a sizzling growth rate of nearly 7 percent. 
• Retail trade, government, leisure/hospitality services, healthcare/social services and construction all contributed at least 100 positions each to the overall job improvement. 
• However, not all industries shared in the employment joy. Information, mining and wholesale trade all lost notable numbers of jobs. 
• Joblessness increased in spring and early summer as layoffs took their toll, but has rolled back somewhat in recent months. 
• In August 2016, the county’s unemployment rate measured 4.4 percent, roughly equal to a year ago. 
• First-time claims for unemployment insurance measured noticeably higher than average during the summer months, but have since subsided. 
• Construction has generated the largest number of new claims so far this year as projects have come to a close. 
• However, professional/business services (which includes temp agencies), retail trade and leisure/hospitality services also experienced strong claims activity. 
• After stalling somewhat earlier in the year. 
• Iron County’s average monthly wage resumed its upward trend with 3-percent growth between the second quarters of 2015 and 2016. 
• Iron County’s construction permit values showed a significant decline for the first eight months of 2016 due to the comparison with usually high nonresidential permitting in 2015. 
• On the other hand, homebuilding is up significantly from last year. 
• Gross taxable sales also showed strong improvement with a second quarter year-to-year increase of nearly 8 percent. 
• Sales gains in retail trade proved particularly robust.

Garfield County Economic Update

Garfield County’s employment levels failed to demonstrate steady improvement as 2016 progressed. Despite some brief signs of progress, by the end of second quarter, jobs showed continuing contraction. Joblessness edged up for the first half of the year only to slip back down in July and August. The late summer improvement may signal better news on the jobs front. However, due to the seasonal nature of the economy, the county’s always high unemployment rate measures more than double the state average. On the other hand, first-time claims for unemployment insurance show no signs of nonseasonal activity. Gross taxable sales provide the best economic news with more than two straight years of expansion.

• Between June 2015 and June 2016, Garfield County’s nonfarm jobs dropped by roughly 2 percent, representing a decline nearly 60 positions. 
• Employment contraction in public education and transportation accounted for the lion’s share of job losses although leisure/hospitality services and construction took job hits as well. 
• Healthcare/social services, manufacturing and retail trade added notable numbers of new positions but these gains were not enough to offset other losses. 
• Garfield County’s already high jobless rate edged up in the first half of the year only to edge down in recent months. 
• In August 2016, the county’s unemployment rate registered 8.4 percent. 
• The seasonal nature of the Garfield County’s labor market results in a perennially high jobless rate. 
• So far in 2016, first-time claims have followed a seasonal pattern with no sign of cyclical distress. 
• Although Garfield County’s average monthly wage continues to increase, improvements are minor. 
• Between the second quarters of 2015 and 2016, the average wage increased by less than 2 percent. 
• Gross taxable sales continued as the brightest spot in the Garfield County economy. 
• The second quarter year-over gain measured a robust 6 percent. 
• Sales in the accommodations industry generated much of the additional sales with retail trade improving as well.

Beaver County Economic Update

Beaver County’s recent economic indicators are dominated by layoffs in mining. The notable decline in the county’s nonfarm job totals can be traced primarily to mining contraction. In addition, these layoffs have driven up the area’s unemployment rate by roughly 2 percentage points. Claims for unemployment insurance have returned to more customary levels. In addition, construction permitting is off dramatically from last year. The brightest spot in this otherwise gray portrayal was a healthy increase in gross taxable sales.

• Beaver County’s nonfarm employment dropped by roughly 140 jobs between June 2015 and June 2016, representing a year-to-year decrease of almost 6 percent. 
• Layoffs in mining constituted the majority of lost employment. Leisure/hospitality services, construction and retail trade all added notable numbers of new jobs, but the gains did not prove sufficient to counteract mining’s declines. 
• Most other major industries each shed a few jobs. 
• Beaver County's unemployment rate shot up to 5.7 percent in August 2016 reflecting the significant layoffs in mining. 
• The jobless rate is up nearly 2 percentage points from last year. 
• Mining layoffs also drove up first-time claims for unemployment insurance in May and June, but claims have returned to a more normal level in the autumn months. 
• Mining and construction have accounted for the vast majority of unemployment claims so far this year. 
• Beaver County’s average monthly wage continued to slowly increase with a healthy 4-percent gain between second quarter 2015 and second quarter 2016. 
• Construction permitting for the first eight months of 2016 pales in comparison with 2015 because of the large utility projects authorized in that year. 
• However, residential building seems to have slowed dramatically as well. 
• Beaver County’s second quarter 2016 gross taxable sales showed a healthy 3-percent year-over increase. 
• Sales in retail trade, in particular at building/garden stores, contributed much of the expansion. 
• Even a significant dip in manufacturing investment expenditures couldn’t offset the strong retail gain.

Sportsman’s Warehouse coming to Cedar City

Sportsman’s Warehouse is expanding its operations to include a new retail location in Cedar City. The Cedar City location will be the ninth Sportsman’s Warehouse store in Utah. The store will be a smaller format store with an anticipated opening in the first half of 2017. These stores will feature an extensive selection of hunting, fishing and camping gear, as well as a wide range of apparel and footwear. As with all Sportsman’s Warehouse locations, the store will also feature instruction, seminars and special events related to outdoor activities. Utah Business Magazine

Washington County Economic Update

Washington County started 2016 with a slightly better employment performance than the previous year. While most of 2015 produced year-to-year growth rates near the 5-percent mark, first quarter 2016 rates popped up to the 6-percent mark. While 6 percent expansion is not far off normal for Utah’s Dixie, higher job growth could signal an overheated economy. As in most Utah counties, Washington County’s has seen its jobless rate edge up in recent months. Strong job growth and limited unemployment insurance claims activity suggest that labor force entrants and re-entrants are temporarily inflating the unemployed totals. Overall, construction permitting is running above average and gross taxable sales are increasing nicely. All indicators continue to point to a currently healthy economy.

• Between March 2015 and March 2016, Washington County generated 3,400 new nonfarm jobs for a year-to-year growth rate of 6 percent. 
• Construction took the lead in job creation followed closely by healthcare/social services and retail trade. 
• Professional/business services also added a substantial number of new positions. 
• All major industries showed job gains, although manufacturing employment barely held steady. 
• As in many Utah counties, joblessness has ticked upwards in recent months, but it remains relatively low at 4.1 percent in June 2016. 
• New claims for unemployment insurance followed a seasonal pattern in the first half of 2016 and provide no signs of large lay-offs. 
• Retail trade, professional/business services and leisure/hospitality services (all with seasonal or temporary characteristics) have generated the largest numbers of first-time claims so far this year. 
• Washington County’s average monthly nonfarm wage continues to gradually increase. 
• Between the first quarters of 2015 and 2016, the average wage improved by roughly 3 percent. 
• Residential construction permitting started the year in fine shape. 
• Home permits are up almost 40 percent for first quarter 2016 compared to last year. 
• New nonresidential permitting remained essentially flat. 
• Gross taxable sales began its sixth straight year of expansion. 
• Between the first quarters of 2015 and 2016, Washington County sales jumped by 11 percent. 
• Motor vehicle sales, building material/garden stores, general merchandise stores and accommodations/food services were the big sales winners of first quarter 2016.

Kane County Economic Update

The first few months of 2016 found Kane County generating a second straight quarter of exceptional job growth. This expansion is not a one-industry wonder with many sectors joining the job creation party. However, despite employment expansion and the lack of unseasonal unemployment insurance claims activity, joblessness has edged up slightly. This conundrum suggests that workers are entering and re-entering the labor market creating a short-term swell in the jobless rate. Gross taxable sales certainly fell in line with employment showing robust expansion. When taken in concert, the county’s indicators point to a strong, well-functioning economy.

• Between March 2015 and March 2016, Kane County added 250 new jobs for a robust growth rate of 8.5 percent. 
• A spurt in new accommodations jobs helped push up leisure/hospitality services jobs up by 11 percent. 
• Construction, manufacturing, retail trade and financial activities also contributed to the overall improvement. 
• No Kane County industry experienced a significant employment loss in first quarter 2016. As in many Utah counties, joblessness in Kane County has crept up in recent months. 
• Nevertheless, at 4.3 percent (June 2016), the county’s unemployment rate remains low. 
• First-time claims for unemployment insurance seem to be following a seasonal pattern with no cyclical disturbances. 
• The seasonal leisure/hospitality services industry has generated the highest number of new claims so far in 2016. 
• The area’s average monthly nonfarm wage showed little year-to-year improvement in the first quarter of 2016. 
• However, wages have trended upward since the recession and should continue to do so. 
• Current construction data for Kane County is not available. 
• First quarter 2016 sales outpaced first quarter 2015 sales by about 10 percent. 
• Expansion in accommodations sales proved a major mover and shaker in sales expansion.

Iron County Economic Update

Continuing a year-long upward trend, Iron County’s employment expansion torqued up a notch in the first quarter of 2016. Most industries contributed to the robust expansion although there are a few notable exceptions. As in most Utah counties, joblessness has ticked up in recent months. However, the county’s rate remains below the national average. First-time claims for unemployment insurance have trended slightly higher than usual in the last few months contributing to overall level of joblessness. Construction permitting seems to be off to a slow start in 2016. However, it’s early days yet and activity will likely improve. Gross taxable sales increased nicely in first quarter contributing to a healthy economy with only small pockets of disquiet.

• Between March 2015 and March 2016, Iron County’s employment base added almost 1,000 new jobs, up nearly 6 percent. 
• Most industries joined in the overall expansion with retail trade, accommodations/food services, government, professional/business services and construction showing strong employment contributions. 
• On the down side, both mining and information displayed significant industry-level job contraction. 
• Joblessness has increased in recent months as layoffs took their toll. In June 2016, the county’s unemployment rate measured 4.7 percent, almost the highest level since 2013. 
• First-time claims for unemployment insurance have measured somewhat higher than average in recent months. 
• Construction, retail trade and professional/business services (all with a seasonal/temporary component) have generated the largest number of new claims so far this year. 
• Iron County’s average monthly nonfarm wage has trended upward for an extended period of time. 
• Yet, in the first quarter of 2016, wage gains stalled. A quarter does not a trend make and figures may improve in upcoming months. 
• Construction permitting appeared somewhat slower in the first three months of 2016 when compared to the same time period in 2015. 
• However, data for most of the year is not available and permitting in 2015 was the strongest since the recession. 
• Gross taxable sales showed a healthy 13-percent increase between the first quarters of 2015 and 2016. 
• Retail sales showed particularly strong gains with motor vehicle, electronics and general merchandise stores leading the pack.

Garfield County Economic Update

Garfield County began 2016 with a mixed performance on the jobs front. Although the first two months of 2016 showed year-over declines in employment, March ended the quarter with a healthy 4-percent increase. Whether job growth or job contraction will win out in 2016 is not yet clear. Joblessness does appear to be on the upswing after edging down for most of 2015. In addition, the county’s always high unemployment rate measures more than double the state average. On the other hand, first-time claims for unemployment insurance show no signs of nonseasonal activity. Gross taxable sales rounded out this diverse set of economic indicators with a strong first-quarter increase.

• While, overall, Garfield County’s first quarter 2016 nonfarm employment dipped by 0.5 percent in comparison to the previous year, March ended the quarter on the upswing. 
• Between March 2015 and March 2016, the county added 70 new jobs for a year-to-year gain of nearly 4 percent. 
• A notable employment gain in leisure/hospitality services employment was canceled out by a notable job loss in the public sector. 
• Other industries showing job gains included manufacturing, retail trade, healthcare/social services and information. 
• Garfield County’s already high jobless rate has been trending up since late 2015. 
• In June 2016, the county’s unemployment rate registered 8.8 percent. 
• The seasonal nature of the Garfield County’s labor market results in a perennially high jobless rate. 
• The lack of significant claims activity suggests the unemployment uptick is the result of workers entering or re-entering the labor market. 
• So far in 2016, first-time claims have followed a seasonal pattern with no sign of cyclical distress. 
• Garfield County’s average monthly nonfarm wage continued to slowly edge upward. 
• However, the first quarter 2016 figure showed a barely noticeable year-to-year gain. 
• Current construction data is not available for Garfield County. 
• Between the first quarters of 2015 and 2016, Garfield County’s gross taxable sales increased by a robust 18 percent. 
• Accommodations and retail trade experienced the strongest sales gains.

Beaver County Economic Update

Following strong-to-moderate employment growth in 2015, Beaver County’s labor market expansion stalled in early 2016 as several industries (in particular mining) took job hits. In addition, unemployment insurance claims data activity suggests the county suffered outright employment contraction in second quarter. These job losses will most likely continue to bump up Beaver County’s currently low unemployment rate. So far in 2016, construction activity appears relatively low especially compared with 2015 which was a banner year for both nonresidential and residential building. Strong gains in gross taxable sales provide the best current economic news. Overall, the county’s economy will be tested as 2016 continues.

Between March 2015 and March 2016, Beaver County’s nonfarm jobs increased but just barely. 

Nonagricultural employment expanded a mere 17 jobs for a year-over gain of less than 1 percent. 

Not included in the nonfarm totals are an additional 43 positions in covered agriculture. 

Employment declines in mining, transportation/warehousing and professional business services dragged down overall growth. 

On the nonfarm side, only retail trade created a significant number of new jobs. 

On the horizon, construction job counts should improve in upcoming months as the large solar projects progress. 

However, based on claims activity, layoffs in mining will continue to temper the numbers. 

Beaver County's unemployment rate shot up to 5.5 percent in June 2016 and reflects significant layoffs in mining. 

First-time claims for unemployment insurance skyrocketed in May and June primarily due to those mining layoffs. 

With its project-to-project nature, construction has also generated a substantial amount of unemployment insurance claims thus far in 2016. 

Increases in Beaver County’s average monthly wage decelerated in recent months although continuing to trend upward. 

Beaver County’s first quarter 2016 average nonfarm wage of roughly $2,700 measured noticeably below the statewide average ($3,600). 

In the first few months of 2016, Beaver County construction permitting seems off to a slow start. 

Few dwelling-unit permits have been issued and new nonresidential values pale in comparison to the huge solar projects authorized in 2015. 

Between the first quarters of 2015 and 2016, Beaver County’s gross taxable sales increased by a whopping 20 percent. 

Strong sales at building material/garden stores coupled with substantial business investment expenditures generated a large portion of the first-quarter gain.

Washington County Economic Update

Another quarter, another fine economic performance. After the anguish of the recession, somehow Washington County’s persistent, moderately-expanding economy just never seems boring. Fourth-quarter 2015 job growth clocked in again near the 5-percent mark while the unemployment rate held below 4 percent. Jobs seem to be growing fast enough to absorb new entrants, but not so fast as to overly stress the labor market. The seasonal, noncyclical performance of new unemployment insurance claims bolsters this view. Construction permitting ended 2015 with a slight gain suggesting this market is not overheated as well. With these indicators and strong growth in gross taxable sales, Washington County sports an enviable economy.

• Washington County produced almost 3,000 new jobs between December 2014 and December 2015, up 5.3 percent.

• Healthcare/social services led the job-creation pack with almost 800 new positions. In addition, construction, professional/business services and manufacturing turned in honorable mention performances.

• All major industrial sectors experienced job growth. • Government turned in one of the most sluggish displays, expanding by only 1 percent.

• Healthy job growth kept the county’s jobless rate at a low 3.8 percent in March 2016. • The jobless rate is indicative of an economy at “full employment.”

• New claims for unemployment insurance followed a seasonal pattern in the first few months of 2016 and show no signs of large lay-offs.

• Retail trade, professional/business services and leisure/hospitality services (all with seasonal or temporary characteristics) have generated the largest numbers of first-time claims so far this year.

• Washington County’s average monthly nonfarm wage continues to slowly increase. Between the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2015, the average wage increased roughly 4 percent.

• With a 9-percent gain, construction permitting values showed a moderate uptick in 2015.

• New nonresidential values slipped slightly, while home permits showed a slender gain. Homebuilding shows no current signs of the excesses of the previous housing bubble.

• The county’s gross taxable sales increased by a healthy 10.3 percent between the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2015.

• Motor vehicle dealers, durable wholesale trade and general merchandise store sales showed the strongest additio

Kane County Economic Update

Kane County’s nonfarm employment exploded at year-end completing a two-and-a-half-year spate of job growth. While more than half of the expansion occurred in one industry (leisure/hospitality services), most other industries joined in the job-growth party. Not surprisingly, the county’s unemployment rate continued to edge downward hitting the lowest level since the recession began. First-time claims for unemployment insurance held in their characteristic seasonal pattern also pointing towards a healthy economy. In addition, gross taxable sales showed a robust increase. Only lower construction permitting seemed to cast a pall over Kane County’s economic landscape.

• Nonfarm jobs grew by 230 positions between December 2014 and December 2015 generating a year-to-year increase of 8.1 percent.

• Tourism-driven leisure/hospitality services accounted for more than half of the new positions.

• Other industries with notable expansion included construction, manufacturing, financial activities and government.

• The only job loss of note occurred in the healthcare/social services industry.

• Kane County’s March 2016 unemployment rate measured 4.0 percent, down half a percentage point from March 2015.

• While the county’s jobless rate is somewhat higher than the statewide figure of 3.5 percent, it registers well within the range generally considered to represent a “full-employment” economy.

• First-time claims for unemployment insurance tracked the typical seasonal pattern in the first few months of 2016, showing no sign of cyclical distress.

• The seasonal leisure/hospitality services industry has generated the highest number of new claims so far in 2016.

• The county’s average monthly nonfarm wage continued to improve increasing by almost 4 percent between the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2015.

• Data suggests that construction permitting fell roughly 30 percent when 2014 and 2015 figures are compared.

• Both new residential and nonresidential permits values are down from the previous year.

• Between the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2015, Kane County’s gross taxable sales jumped by 13 percent.

• Increases in accommodations sales accounted for much of the gain with declines in food, clothing and general merchandise store sales offsetting some of the accommodations increase.

Iron County Economic Update

Iron County ended 2015 with another quarter of strong job growth signaling its firm entrenchment in an expansionary mode. In addition, growth is relatively broad-based with most industries sharing in the economic joy. Unemployment remains low, but not too low and first-time claims for unemployment insurance show no signs of cyclical distress. Construction permitting values doubled last year’s figures with homebuilding showing the best year since the recession. Gross taxable sales rounded out this bright picture with strong fourth-quarter improvement.

• With 4.5 percent expansion, Iron County’s nonfarm jobs increased by 750 positions between December 2014 and December 2015.

• While most industries added employment, retail trade, leisure/hospitality services and manufacturing dominated the figures with each industry creating 100-plus new jobs.

• Other notable job-gaining industries included construction, professional business services, private education/health/social services and government.

• Among the major industrial sectors, only mining showed a slight decline.

• Joblessness followed its recent trend hovering near the full-employment-level of 4 percent.

• In March 2016, Iron County’s unemployment rate measured 4.2 percent, just slightly lower than the year-ago figure, but slightly higher than the statewide average of 3.5 percent.

• In the first few months of 2016, first time claims for unemployment insurance kept to a regular seasonal pattern suggesting no cyclical issues.

• Construction, retail trade and professional/business services (all with a seasonal/temporary component) have generated the largest number of new claims so far this year.

• Iron County’s average monthly nonfarm wage continues to trend slowly upward. The year-over gain for fourth quarter 2015 measured almost 6 percent.

• In 2015, construction permitting values more than doubled the 2014 figures.

• While solar-project permitting boosted nonresidential totals, Iron County’s new home permits reached their highest level since the beginning of the recession (up 26 percent in 2015).

• Expansion in fourth-quarter gross taxable sales proved particularly strong with a year-over gain of 17 percent.

• While a prior-period adjustment was responsible for part of this increase, retail trade and food services sales increased nicely with a particularly strong showing by motor vehicle dealers.

• In addition, gains in business investment expenditures by utilities and construction also added to the overall improvement.

Garfield County Economic Update

Although Garfield County’s jobs growth record isn’t wholly consistent, it has remained primarily in the growth column in 2015. Fourth quarter proved no exception to this pattern. While November’s year-to-year employment slipped slightly, on the whole, the county’s nonfarm jobs expanded moderately. In fact, 2015, was Garfield County’s best employment performance in half a decade. Unemployment, however, has changed little over the past year and remains high due to the seasonal nature of Garfield County’s tourism-driven economy. First-time claims for unemployment insurance remained seasonably low in the first few months of 2016. Gross taxable sales rounded out this economic picture with a moderate fourth-quarter increase.

• Between December 2014 and December 2015, Garfield County added 61 net, new nonfarm jobs for a year-over growth rate of 3.5 percent.

• This moderate expansion occurred despite a notable drop in public sector positions (primarily local government) and the loss of a number of construction jobs.

• On the positive side, a majority of industries added sufficient employment to more than counteract the aforementioned declines.

• Leisure/hospitality services, private education/health/social services and information generated the largest numbers of new positions.

• In March 2016, the county’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate measured 8.7 percent, far higher than the statewide average of 3.5 percent.

• Although the county’s rate is the third-highest in Utah, a seasonal economy is responsible for its near-the-top ranking rather than underlying economic difficulties.

• A low seasonal level of first-time claims in the first few months of 2016 lends credence to this supposition.

• Not surprisingly, leisure/hospitality services accounted for the lions’ share of new claims so far this year.

• Garfield County’s average monthly nonfarm wage continued on its slowly improving upward track. The fourth-quarter 2016 year-to-year increase proved particularly strong at 6 percent.

• As in many rural counties, Garfield County’s average wages trail far behind the state average.

• Between the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2015, the county’s gross taxable sales increased by a moderate 3.9 percent.

• Accommodations, information and retail trade experienced the strongest gains aided by expansion in business-investment expenditures in utilities.

Beaver County Economic Update

As 2015 came to an end, Beaver County’s economy found itself in an unaccustomed period of relative tranquility. In the final quarter of the year, jobs showed moderate gains with fairly broad industry participation. Correspondingly, in early 2016, joblessness has leveled out at a relatively low level and first-time claims for unemployment insurance are holding to a seasonal pattern. In 2015, construction permitting surged from the authorization of several large solar permits and the home-building market experienced the strongest permitting in the post-recession era. And, while gross taxable sales appear to be down substantially, the drop can be traced to prior period adjustments; current activity showed positive gains.

• Although fourth-quarter 2015 job expansion is down from earlier in the year, it marks a more moderate, less construction-dominated employment picture.

• Between December 2014 and December 2015, Beaver County added 72 nonfarm jobs for a growth rate of 3 percent.

• Mining, construction, professional/business services and leisure/hospitality generated the largest numbers of new positions with a little help from the public sector.

• Other industries held steady or experienced only minor job declines.

• Construction employment should continue to grow in upcoming months as solar-project construction ramps up.

• Joblessness held a sustained, relatively low level in the first few months of 2016.

• In March 2016, Beaver County’s unemployment rate stood at 3.7 percent, just slightly higher than the Utah average.

• In recent weeks, first-time claims for unemployment insurance have dropped even lower than similarly-timed claims in previous years.

• So far in 2016, mining and construction have accounted for the largest numbers of new claims.

• Excluding the bumps created by large construction projects, Beaver County’s average nonfarm wage continued to slowly trend upward, but remains far below the statewide average.

• In 2015, Beaver County permit-authorized construction values skyrocketed by more than 1,000 percent.

• Permits for solar projects were primarily responsible for the overall gain.

• However, homebuilding seems to finally be on the mend. Compared to 2014, the number of new home permits is up by three-fourths.

• Don’t despair over the fourth-quarter 2015 26-percent drop in Beaver County gross taxable sales. After excluding adjustments for prior periods, current quarter sales actually increased by almost 16 percent.

• Strongest sales gains occurred in the wholesale trade, information, real estate/rental, utilities and accommodations industries.

• Business-investment expenditures in mining and manufacturing figures showed notable year-to-year declines.

What's Up Down South?

Lecia Langston's presentation slides from the Washington County economic summit, What's Up Down South?, are available by clicking this link.