After nearly a year and a half of enduring remote work as a viable pandemic-era solution, many CEOs around the nation are telling employees that now is the time to return to the office. This finally-had-it moment comes just in time for the state of Utah with a thriving economy that has added 51,300 jobs since June 2019.
Utah Department of Workforce Services’ Chief Economist Mark Knold recently reported the summer months in Utah have brought a robust awakening to the economy. The two-year job growth measure increased from 2.3% in May 2021 to 3.3% in June 2021. A full percentage-point increase in one month. The state unemployment rate is 2.7% — standing in stark contrast to the national average of 5.9%.
Utah companies continue to move forward with their return-to-office timelines because, quite frankly, we work better together. Business leaders contend that when a company has a productive culture and employs people that collaborate and work well together, you want them back in the office together as soon as possible.
According to the Wall Street Journal, most white-collar employees are still working remotely. Nationally, about a third of workers have started to go back into their workplaces, according to data from Kastle, a firm that records access-card swipes in thousands of buildings.
Pandemic-specific federal unemployment programs ended in Utah on June 26. The enhanced unemployment insurance is slated to end in all states on September 4. With a low unemployment rate in Utah, expired business restrictions, and vaccines widely available, now may be the time for the state’s workforce to get back to normal.