June 2011 County-level Unemployment Rates Available

The Utah Department of Workforce Services has just released updated unemployment rates for June 2011. Following the statewide trend, most counties experienced a very slight uptick in joblessness or remained stable. The current gains are small enough to be accounted for by statistical variability rather than an actual increase in overall joblessness--particularly since Utah is continuing to show net expansion in jobs. On the other hand, this minor increase may reflect that fact that--perceiving an improved economy--previously discouraged workers have returned to their job searches.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates included Cache, Uintah, Millard, Duchesne, and Rich counties. Millard County proved the outlier as Cache and Rich counties are located in the northern part of Utah and Duchesne and Uintah counties are neighbors in the Uintah Basin.

The worst jobless rates were encountered in Juab, Wayne, Grand, Garfield, and San Juan counties. Rates in Grand and Garfield counties appear perennially high due to the seasonal nature of a high percentage of employment.

To access the full set of unemployment rates, click here.

Ground broken for new stake center for singles in Ephraim

Leaders and members of the Ephraim Young Single Adult 1st Stake broke ground Tuesday on what the stake president described as a one-of-a kind stake center next to the Ephraim LDS Institute. The 35,000-square-foot
building, at least 25 percent larger than the typical LDS stake center, is located an approximately five-acre site on the southwest corner of College Avenue and 100 East. Sanpete Messenger

Sanpete County Commission considers bond for Moroni Feed

Moroni Feed Co. executives are asking Sanpete County to sponsor a $4.1 million industrial bond to upgrade its feed plant. Kent Christensen, vice president of live production for Moroni Feed, told county commissioners
Tuesday the money would go toward two pelletizing machines that are necessary to keep the business competitive.

The company is seeking a county sponsorship of a “private activity bond” (PAB) from GE Capital. The bond would be secured by the company’s assets, and the county would not be liable for the bond’s repayment. Sanpete Messenger

2010 Census News

The Census Bureau now a profile "map" available for Utah. This map shows population density by census tract as well as other interesting information from the 2010 Census. You can access the map at by clicking here.

Also, the Census will release the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Utah to the public on July 28.The Summary File 1 tables will provide the most detailed information available so far from the 2010 Census, including cross-tabulations of age, sex, households, families, relationship to householder, characteristics of owners and renters, detailed race and Hispanic or Latino origin groups, and group quarters. The information will be available for a variety of geographic areas, with most tables available down to the block or census tract level.