• Between June 2013 and June 2014, Millard County’s nonfarm jobs increased by roughly 20 positions, representing a 0.5 percent increase.
• This marginal expansion conceals a wide variety of industry-level performances.
• While manufacturing, transportation/warehousing, information, education/healthcare/social services and government made notable additions to the county’s job totals, losses in construction, retail trade and leisure/hospitality services almost offset those gains.
• A surge mid-August surge in first-time unemployment claims for the manufacturing industry implies manufacturing job totals may show contraction when third quarter data are available.
• Joblessness in Millard County remains remarkably low according to unemployment rate estimates. In August 2014, the jobless rate measured a mere 3.1 percent, lower than the state average of 3.6 percent.
• Gross taxable sales slipped into negative territory as the year progressed. Between the second quarters of 2013 and 2014, Millard County’s sales dropped by 7.9 percent.
• Compared to unusually high expenditures in second quarter 2013, a drop in wholesale trade sales accounted for a large portion of the decline. However, notable declines occurred in information and real estate/leasing occurred as well.
• Increases the business expenditures category and gasoline stations helped soften the overall sales hit.
• Other than the swell in manufacturing claims, first-time claims for unemployment insurance remain low.
