Contact: Emily Christensen, 202-224-5444, Washington, D.C. 20510 |
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2006 |
Bennett Hails Utah Job Growth and All-Time Low Unemployment as Great News for the State
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) today praised the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report that shows Utah’s unemployment rate at an all-time low of 2.8 percent, well below the U.S. rate of 4.6 percent, and also places the state in the top four for increases in employment last month.
“Today’s announcement is certainly great news for Utah. This is further evidence of the character of our citizens, the quality of our workforce, and the excellence in our educational institutions” said Bennett, vice chairman of the Joint Economic Committee that reviews economic conditions and recommends improvements in economic policy in the Congress. “The all-time low unemployment rate of 2.8 percent reflects the strength of Utah’s economy and positive business climate.”
Below are Utah highlights from today’s BLS regional and state employment and unemployment data report for September.
- Utah had a statistically-significant 0.6 percent increase in non-farm payroll employment– placing Utah in the top four states in terms of percent increases in employment in the month.
- Utah had a statistically-significant 5 percent increase in employment over the year ending in September – giving Utah the second-largest over-the-year percent gain in employment among all states.
- Utah’s unemployment rate was 2.8 percent in September—the second-lowest in the nation and an all-time low for the state.
- Utah had a statistically significant 0.4 percentage point decline in its unemployment rate in September – placing Utah in the top 12 states in terms of percent decreases in unemployment rates (Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah).
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http://bennett.senate.gov/