As is often the case for less-populated counties, what goes up rapidly can just as rapidly come down. Wayne County’s skyrocketing nonfarm job growth rate (16 percent in January) has evaporated in just six months. Whether the county can revive its employment expansion before year end is yet to be seen. Despite a tumbling job growth rate, joblessness has returned to its recent slowly declining ways. Although the unemployment rate remains high, first-time claims activity remains low. Wayne County’s mixed bag of indicators is rounded out by strong performance in both construction-permitting and sales.
In total, between the second quarters of 2015 and 2016, Wayne County’s nonfarm jobs increased by almost 5 percent.
Unfortunately, by quarter-end, the county was experiencing slight year-over employment contraction.
On an industry level, retail trade’s job gains were canceled out by leisure/hospitality services’ job losses.
Other industries showed minor changes in employment totals.
After a brief lull, Wayne County's jobless rate continued on its slow three-year decline and is down nearly a full percentage point from last year.
The county’s August 2016 unemployment rate of 7.9 percent reflects a seasonal, tourism-driven economy.
First-time claims for unemployment insurance are currently following a seasonal pattern suggesting that no unusual layoff activity has occurred so far in 2016.
The leisure/hospitality services industry has generated the lion’s share of new claims so far this year.
The county’s average monthly nonfarm wage took a breather from its recent expansion.
Between the second quarters of 2015 and 2016, the average wage was virtually unchanged.
Wayne County’s notable increase in permitted construction values is being driven by several nonresidential projects.
New home building is down slightly from last year.
Gross taxable sales were up almost 5 percent when the second quarters of 2015 and 2016 are compared marking four straight quarters of sales gains.
Retail trade and accommodations accounted for much of the second quarter improvement.
Sevier County has backed off from the healthy job growth it experienced in2015. Nonfarm job totals seem to be treading water with only marginal improvement. Although some industries have made employment strides, others have shed jobs. Slower job growth coordinates with an uptick in unemployment during spring and early summer (which has since abated). First-time claims for unemployment insurance currently show no sign of unusual economic distress. On the other hand, a dip in gross taxable sales combines with slower job growth to suggest the economy could use some revitalization.
After a brief dip into negative territory in May, Sevier County’s June 2016 nonfarm jobs total edged up by a little more than 1 percent (up about 110 jobs).
Healthcare/social services made the largest employment contributions with help from mining, construction and the public sector.
However, trade, information, leisure/hospitality services and other services all took notable job hits.
After a brief uptick between March and June, Sevier County's unemployment rate has slipped back down to more normal levels.
Joblessness measured 4.3 percent in August 2016, slightly higher than the statewide average, but below the national rate.
In the first ten months of 2016, first-time claims for unemployment insurance followed a traditional seasonal pattern with no signs of unusual stress.
So far this year, construction, retail trade and private education/healthcare/social services have generated the most claims activity.
The county’s average monthly wage continued to show some improvement.
Between the second quarters of 2015 and 2016 Sevier County’s average monthly wage expanded by almost 3 percent.
Gross taxable sales dipped slightly (down about 1 percentage point) between the second quarters of 2015 and 2016.
Despite strong sales growth at building/garden stores and food stores, a decrease in business investment expenditures and car sales put a drag on the overall sales totals.
Sanpete County’s economic indicators have aligned to paint a bright picture for the economy. Nonfarm jobs continued a two-year streak of moderate-to-strong year-over gains. While joblessness edged up slightly between March and June as workers entered and reentered the labor market, unemployment had dropped back to early 2016 levels by August. The share of out-of-work individuals remains relatively low. First-time claims for unemployment insurance also are also nominal, while construction permitting is up dramatically. Sales rounded out this strong performance with a healthy second quarter gain.
Between June 2015 and June 2016, Sanpete County added more than 240 nonfarm jobs for a year-to-year growth rate of 3.2 percent.
Employment expansion in government, construction, manufacturing, trade/transportation/utilities and professional/business services proved sufficient to overshadow a 60-job loss in leisure/hospitality services.
Other major industries experienced minor employment improvement.
Following Utah’s lead, Sanpete County’s unemployment rate increased somewhat in in spring and early summer only to slip back down by summer's end.
At 4.0 percent in August 2016, joblessness remains relatively low from an historical perspective.
During the first 10 months of 2016, new unemployment insurance claims followed the seasonal pattern of the past several years with no sign of cyclical layoffs.
Due to its project-to-project nature, construction accounted for a large share of current 2016 claims activity.
Average monthly wages continued to trend upward. The county’s second quarter 2016 year-to-year gain of more than 4 percent appeared particularly encouraging.
Construction permitting for the first eight months of 2016 is up substantially from the same time period in 2015.
Both new residential and new nonresidential permit values contributed to the overall increase.
Gross taxable sales turned in a strong second quarter 2016 gain as sales increased nearly 5 percent over second quarter 2015 figures.
Sales at retail establishments registered particularly robust increases.
The only decline of note was contraction in manufacturing business investment expenditures.
Piute County’s in-county labor market continued to struggle in the second quarter of 2016. A meager one-job gain in June was hardly sufficient to counteract job losses earlier in the quarter. Despite a rather disheartening jobs picture, unemployment slipped back down after a significant spring and early summer increase. The improvement in joblessness despite the lack of new jobs suggests workers have found employment outside the county or left the labor market all together. Moreover, the county’s jobless rate registers notably higher than the state average. While a slight uptick in sales sheds a little light on this rather gray picture, it falls far short of suggesting the county’s economy is back on track.
Piute County managed to stave off job loss in just one month of second quarter 2016. Moreover, the June 2016 year-over gain was merely one nonfarm job.
In the last 12 months, job gains in professional/business services and leisure/hospitality services just offset job losses in government and retail trade.
As in many Utah counties, Piute County joblessness bumped up a notch in spring and early summer only to edge back down, but remains relatively high.
In August 2016, the unemployment rate estimate for Piute County measured 6.0 percent, more than 2 percentage points higher than the statewide average (3.7 percent).
Yet, new unemployment insurance claims remain low with most claims so far this year originating in construction.
The county’s average monthly wage continued to eke out gains as the year progressed. Second-quarter’s year-over gain of nearly 5 percent kept wages in 2016 trending upward.
Piute County’s gross taxable sales managed modest gains. Between the second quarters o 2015 and 2016, sales increased by almost 3 percent.
A notable decrease in food/beverage store sales contributed to a decline in overall retail sales.
Interestingly, private motor vehicle sales generated the largest sales-dollar increase during the quarter.
Millard County’s labor market rallied from a lackluster performance earlier in the year with notable improvement throughout the second quarter of 2016. While the public sector provided much of the job increases, most industries added workers and the few job losses proved minor. After an unseasonal summer increase in first-time claims for unemployment insurance, the county experienced an uptick in joblessness. However, by September unemployment had retreated to its previously low level. In addition, strong nonresidential permitting has kept new building values on the high side. While sales growth proved rather lukewarm, in general, Millard County’s economic indicators provide an upbeat portrait of the area’s economy.
Millard County’s nonfarm jobs bounced back in the second quarter of 2016. Between June 2015 and June 2016, the county added nearly 150 new jobs for a strong 3.5 percent growth rate.
Much of the improvement occurred in the public sector. However, construction also managed hearty job gains.
Professional/business services, private education/healthcare/social services and leisure/hospitality services also contributed to the overall expansion with less flashy gains.
Relatively minor job losses in wholesale trade and information counterbalanced only a small portion of job gains.
After a slight spring and early summer uptick, Millard County's jobless rate returned to the lower rates of early 2016.
At 3.4 percent, unemployment remains very low in August 2016.
First-time claims for unemployment insurance took an unseasonal spike in late spring and summer but had settled back to a more normal pattern by mid-September.
The construction industry contributed the largest number of new claims so far in 2016.
Average wages continued to improve as the year progressed.
The average wage for second quarter 2015 showed a healthy 4-percent gain over the same figure for second quarter 2016.
New nonresidential permitting took the lead in the vast improvement in construction permitting values for the first eight months of 2016.
Solar farm permitting as well as permits for several retail buildings contributed to the strong gain in authorized values.
Gross taxable sales improved by a rather lackluster 2.2 percent between the second quarters of 2015 and 2016.
A notable decline in manufacturing business investment expenditures kept a lid on overall sales.
On the flip side, expenditures mining counteracted part of the manufacturing decrease. In addition,sales at retail establishments showed gains.
After a strong 2015 ending, Millard County’s employment picture clouded at the beginning of 2016. In first quarter 2016, nonfarm employment showed little change from comparable totals for the previous year. On an industry level, performances roamed all over the map with some industries experiencing strong expansion and other industries contracting. With this spotty employment experience and an unseasonal increase in first-time claims for unemployment insurance, the current uptick in joblessness is only to be expected. On the plus side, thanks to solar farm permitting, construction values improved substantially in first quarter. And while much of the reported gross taxable sales gain resulted from a prior-period adjustment, current sales increased nicely as well. Slow job growth and variability in the other recent indicators suggests the economy shows room for improvement.
In the 12 months prior to March 2016, Millard County created only 13 new positions for a year-to-year change of 0.3 percent.
Strong employment gains in construction, professional/business services and private educational services were basically offset by employment contraction in retail trade, information and leisure/hospitality services.
An additional 23 covered agricultural jobs are not included in the nonfarm totals.
Slower job growth coupled with construction layoffs in late spring to nudge Millard County’s unemployment rate up to 3.7 percent in June 2016.
However, the county’s jobless rate remains relatively low.
First-time claims for unemployment insurance took an unseasonal spike in late spring/early summer.
The construction industry contributed the largest number of new claims so far in 2016.
Millard County’s average monthly nonfarm wage continues to trudge upwards.
Between the first quarters of 2015 and 2016, the average wage increased by a healthy 4 percent.
With little construction permitting data available so for this year, new nonresidential permits are dominating figures.
Permitting for the solar farm can claim primary credit for the current high figures.
The reported 49-percent increase in first quarter 2016 gross taxable sales shrinks to only 10 percent when prior-period adjustments are removed.
Of course, 10-percent expansion is still certainly robust.
Much of the current gain can be traced to increased business investment expenditures.
In third quarter 2015, Wayne County held on to the job growth it started earlier in the year. While the improvement is welcome, several industries did take an employment hit. Unemployment rates in the area continue to slowly trend downward. That’s welcome news for this county with the third highest jobless rate in the state. Wayne County continues to struggle with the loss of employment opportunities associated with the closure of its largest employer several years ago. On the positive side, first-time claims for unemployment insurance show a typical seasonal pattern with no significant sign of layoffs. Both sales and construction also demonstrated recent improvement. All in all, the county seems on the road to recovery.
Wayne County added more than 60 new jobs to its nonfarm jobs total between September 2014 and September 2015.
Jobs were up a robust 6 percent in September and the county has not shown a job loss since February 2015.
Leisure/hospitality services and healthcare/social services both experienced notable year-to-year contractions.
Growth in construction, retail trade and the public sector more than counteracted the aforementioned losses.
While Wayne County registered the third highest unemployment rate in the state in December 2015 (8.7 percent), it has seen its rate dip slightly over the past year.
In late 2015, unemployment insurance claims data displayed a typical seasonal pattern with no sign of cyclical distress.
Although the county’s average monthly wage had flattened earlier in the year, the county managed a strong 5-percent wage gain between the third quarters of 2014 and 2015.
For the first 11 months of 2015, Garfield County’s construction permit totals are up by a healthy 25 percent when compared to the same time period in 2014.
Residential permitting was behind the gain with nonresidential building basically holding its own.
Third quarter 2015 gross taxable sales jumped by 9.2 percent over third quarter 2014 figures.
Sales at food stores, accommodations and food services showed the most obvious increases.
With almost two years of job growth under its belt, Sevier County's economy seems healthy with most industries joining in on the expansionary trend. Joblessness has changed little over the year and remains relatively low. Plus, no undue signs of stress have appeared in the unemployment insurance claims which have rolled along at a seasonal pace. Construction permitting appears to be holding ground and sales have shown improvement in all but one quarter during the past three years.
Between September 2014 and September 2015, Sevier County generated almost 220 new jobs for a growth rate approaching 3 percent.
Government proved the only major sector with employment declines, and that loss was barely noticeable.
Leisure/hospitality services contributed the largest number of new positions with resilient advances in health/social services, transportation and retail trade.
The county’s unemployment rate has shown slight ups and downs during the past year, but the December 2015 figure remains relatively low at 4.3 percent.
New claims for unemployment insurance followed a seasonal pattern as 2015 came to a close with no significant nonseasonal layoffs.
Construction, professional/business services and leisure/hospitality services accounted for the largest shares of first-time claims.
The county’s average monthly wage continued to increase.
Year-to-year growth in the third quarter 2015 average wage proved particularly strong at 6.5 percent, although these growth rates can be fairly erratic.
Construction permitting values appear to be holding their own with a 10-percent increase for the first 11 months of 2015.
Third quarter 2015 gross taxable sales showed a moderate 3-percent year-over gain in Sevier County.
In general, retail sales appeared vigorous with building materials/garden stores showing a decided increase.
For the past year, Sanpete County has found itself back in the economic highlife. In third quarter 2015, the rate of employment expansion continued to improve with fairly broad-based industry participation. Joblessness has held fairly steady over the past year at what certainly can be considered a full-employment level. No significant nonseasonal layoffs are apparent in the pattern of first-time unemployment insurance claims. Construction permitting exhibited strong gains as did gross taxable sales. All in all, the economy appears strong and healthy.
Sanpete County pumped out more than 360 jobs between September 2014 and September 2015, for a year-to-year growth rate of almost 5 percent.
Most major industries experienced expansion with only mining and leisure/hospitality services showing minor contraction.
Public-sector employment at the state and local level led the job-creating industry pack.
However, construction, manufacturing, retail trade and professional/business services all made strong contributions as well.
Joblessness seems to have bottomed out at 3.7 percent in December 2015.
The county has seen little change in unemployment rates over the past year.
First-time claims for unemployment insurance showed a typical seasonal pattern as 2015 came to a close. The number did run slightly above 2014, but poses no cause for concern.
Thanks to its project-to-project nature, construction accounted for a large share of 2015 claims activity.
Sanpete County’s average monthly nonfarm wage continued to improve. Between the third quarters of 2014 and 2015, the increase proved particularly robust (3.7 percent).
In the first 11 months of 2015, Sanpete County’s nonresidential permit values increased a dramatic 550 percent when compared to 2014.
The number of new home permits rose in 2015 compared to 2014, but remains low from an historical perspective.
Gross taxable sales generated its eighth straight quarter of expanding sales.
Between the third quarters of 2014 and 2015, sales increased by a robust 7 percent.
Sales proved solid in most retail categories, although building materials/garden stores accounted for a notable portion of the overall gain.
After a brief fling with job growth, Piute County once again found itself in the job-loss trenches in third quarter 2015. The decline represents few jobs and would be less troubling if not for the county’s relatively consistent history of job loss. Despite a sluggish job environment, the county’s unemployment rate has held relatively steady over the past year and there is no sign of unusual activity in new unemployment insurance claims. In contrast with the job market, sales exhibited a strong third quarter performance. Piute County’s economy must consistently create jobs before it can be ruled economically healthy.
Piute County lost nine jobs between September 2014 and September 2015 resulting in a year-to-year decline of almost 4 percent.
Leisure/hospitality services and retail trade experienced the largest employment declines.
In December 2015, Piute County’s unemployment rate measured 6.8 percent, equal to its December 2014 figure.
Piute County can absorb job losses without an increase in unemployment rates because many workers travel outside the county for employment.
First-time claims for unemployment insurance followed a seasonal pattern as 2015 came to end with the largest number of claims filed in the construction industry.
The county’s average monthly wage actually showed a 10-percent year-to-year gain in third quarter 2015.
However, quarterly wage increases are notoriously fickle, particularly in a small county.
Gross taxable sales bounced back from losses earlier in the year with a robust 15-percent third quarter increase.
Strong sales in food stores, recreation and gasoline stations accounted for much of the improvement.
After more than two years of expansion, Millard County took a break from job growth in the third quarter of 2015. Although jobs picked up a bit by quarter-end, public-sector losses hampered labor market growth. However, other economic indicators currently show no signs of distress. New claims for unemployment insurance are basically holding in a seasonal pattern and jobless rates remain low. Construction permitting proved robust in 2015 and sales showed a sturdy third-quarter gain. The current slowdown may prove temporary but certainly bears watching.
Between September 2014 and September 2015, Millard County added 20 new jobs for a tepid growth rate of 0.5 percent.
Declines in state and local government employment proved the major factor in the employment growth slowdown. Utilities and manufacturing also suffered notable losses.
On the positive side of the ledger, wholesale trade, private education/health/social services and leisure/hospitality services all generated significant numbers of new positions.
Despite the public-sector losses, Millard County’s unemployment rate has held relatively steady for the past two years at a low rate.
In December 2015, joblessness measured 3.5 percent, unchanged from a year earlier.
In addition, with the exception of a blip in early autumn, first-time claims for unemployment insurance seem to be holding in a seasonal pattern.
While job growth paused, the county’s average wage actually ticked up a notch.
Third quarter showed a particularly healthy 3.5-percent year-to-year gain.
Nonresidential permitting for industrial buildings took the lead in generating a 57-percent increase in total values for the first 11 months of 2015.
The number of new home permits held steady when compared with 2014.
With almost a 7-percent increase, Millard County’s gross taxable sales turned in a strong third quarter performance.
Much of the rise can be traced to a prior-period adjustment. However, retail trade, accommodations and food services all showed notable gains.
Wayne County’s most recent set of indicators presented a mixed bag of economic performances. Jobs shot up at the end of second quarter, but this may prove to be an anomaly. However, the county’s unemployment rate continues to slip downward which might point to strong employment growth in third quarter. Nevertheless, joblessness in Wayne County measures higher than is desirable and ranks second-highest in the state. Higher unemployment appears to be the lingering effect of the county losing its largest employer given the static performance of first-time claims for unemployment insurance. Construction permitting is down from last year, but on the positive side, second-quarter gross taxable sales showed strong improvement.
In the second quarter of 2015, Sevier County registered year-to-year employment expansion for the sixth straight quarter. Job growth remains moderate, but sufficient to absorb most labor market entrants. The county’s jobless rate has ticked up in recent months, but remains virtually unchanged from the year-ago figure and relatively low from an historical perspective. First-time claims for unemployment insurance did not deviate from the typical seasonal pattern as autumn began. Construction permitting is down slightly according to figures released by the Utah Bureau of Economic and Business Research. However, strong sales growth combined with the other positive indicators suggests the county is economically healthy.
Recently-released jobs data shows Sanpete County continuing on down the expansionary track. Employment expansion is both robust and broadbased. While the county’s unemployment rate has edged up slightly, it remains historically low as do first-time claims for unemployment insurance. Gross taxable sales fills out this group of healthy indicators with strong second quarter gains. Sanpete County seems to have shaken off its previous economic woes.
Piute County’s nonfarm job performance went from rags to riches in second quarter 2015. However, the county must produce a consistent level of employment growth in a number of sectors in order to find its way to solid economic ground. Piute County’s jobless rate has edged downward since the beginning of the year and first-time claims for unemployment insurance have held at a low level as summer turned to autumn. Countering the better jobs news, sales continued to contract.
Millard County’s economic expansion continued with another quarter of job growth although the rate of gain was hindered by notable losses in two industries. Unemployment remained low (if unchanged from last year) and first-time claims for unemployment insurance showed no unexpected increases. Construction continued to improve although the number of dwelling units held steady. Gross taxable sales bounced back from a decline earlier in the year to display moderate expansion. If job expansion can improve, the county will find itself on an even firmer economic footing.
As is the case for many less-populated counties, fluctuation in Wayne County’s economic indicators make reading the economy problematic. At the end of 2014, Wayne County was showing a contracting labor market. In the first quarter of 2015, job growth picked up again. Clearly, a longer track record of expansion is needed before the county can be pronounced fit in the aftermath of the loss of its largest employer in 2011. Indeed, despite the current improvement in employment, Wayne County maintains the highest unemployment rate in Utah. Registering divergent performances, construction permitting improved as sales deteriorated.
Although not all of Sevier County’s economic indicators point in the same direction, the most important gauge of economic health, the year-to-year change in nonfarm jobs, suggests the county has returned to business expansion. In fact, first quarter figures marked the strongest job growth since the beginning of the recession. Although the county’s unemployment rate has changed little in the past several months, it measures at a relatively low rate and new claims for unemployment insurance are down. On the other hand, construction permitting appears slower since 2015 began and first quarter sales increased only slightly.
According to recently released economic indicators, Sanpete County’s economy seems to have regained its expansionary foothold. The county now has nine months of healthy year-to-year job growth under its belt. Moreover, the current expansion is dispersed among a wide variety of industries. Unemployment rates are holding at a low level and new claims for unemployment insurance are down. Rounding out this strong set of indicators, gross taxable sale generated robust expansion in the first quarter of the year.
While Piute County’s most recent economic indicators remain far from healthy, they do show improvement. For most of the past five years, the county has shed jobs at an alarming rate. Recently-released average first quarter 2015 data shows the second slight job gain despite an erratic performance among the various months. In addition, after a slight surge in joblessness in late 2014, unemployment rates are trending downward once more. However, jobless figures continue to track higher than both state and national averages. First quarter gross taxable sales look bad, but are the result of a prior period adjustment. Without the adjustment, sales would have shown moderate progression.
