Recovery from the job losses and disruption caused by the pandemic has varied greatly from state to state but Utah has been a standout in the recovery process. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Utah’s job losses from February 2020 to April 2020 for the state of Utah was at 8.9%, the lowest of all the states. The highest was Michigan at 23.7% with an average job loss throughout the states being at 13.9%. From June 2020 to September 2020, Utah was already showing signs of recovery with job losses at 78,072 countered by job gains of 114,545. In one study, the Bureau estimated that 140,000 jobs were lost in Utah due to Covid but job recovery through April was listed at 158,500 which is 113.2% recovery. Recent data for April 2020 to 2021 is encouraging as well. Nonfarm payroll employment increased 11.1% from 1.43 million jobs to 1,59 million jobs. In that same time Utah’s unemployment rate had come down to 2.8% (tied with four other states for the lowest). Recovery has not been at that pace in the Uintah Basin but still, compared to a year ago, Uintah Basin counties have seen unemployment drop. Unemployment in Daggett County dropped 5.8%, in Duchesne County dropped 7.3%, and in Uintah County dropped 10.4%.
