ST. GEORGE, UT — Employment in Washington County grew 4% over the past year, adding more than 3,600 jobs by August, according to the Utah Department of Workforce Services. The county’s job count rose to an estimated 93,566 from 89,927 a year earlier.
Neighboring counties also posted gains, though at a slower pace. Iron County employment increased 1% to 26,520, while Kane County rose 1.5% to 4,591.
State labor officials said the numbers show continued stability in Southern Utah even as hiring has cooled in some parts of the market. The region’s unemployment rates were little changed to lower than a year ago.
Job growth outpaced by a softer hiring climate
Ben Crabb, chief economist with the Department of Workforce Services, said Utah’s economy remains stable because prime-age workers are expanding and finding jobs at strong rates. He said the broader hiring climate has become less vigorous, especially for people looking for second shifts, part-time work or an entry point into the workforce.
Crabb’s comments suggest a labor market that is still adding jobs but becoming more selective. That pattern can leave some openings available while making it harder for new job seekers to move quickly into work.
The department said the state’s labor market continues to hold up overall, but the competition for some types of jobs has increased. That has been especially noticeable for workers who are just entering the labor force or trying to move back into it after unemployment.
Unemployment rates edge lower across Southern Utah
Washington County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.5% in August, down from 3.6% a year earlier. Iron County’s rate slipped from 3.3% to 3.2%, while Kane County saw a larger drop, from 4% to 3.5%.
For comparison, the national unemployment rate was 4.1%. That means all three Southern Utah counties were below the countrywide figure, with Washington County remaining especially tight by historical labor-market standards.
The lower unemployment rates came even as job growth varied by county. The numbers point to a region where employers are still hiring, but not at the same pace everywhere.
St. George area private employers add 81,000 jobs
In the St. George Metropolitan Statistical Area, private-sector employment grew 3.1% over the year to 81,000 jobs in August. Total nonagricultural employment reached 92,400, up 2.9% from 89,800 a year earlier.
The gains were broad enough to keep the metro area expanding, though not every industry moved in the same direction. Some sectors added workers at a healthy clip, while others were flat or slightly lower than a year earlier.
That mix reflects a local economy that continues to grow, but with strength concentrated in a few major industries rather than spread evenly across every line of work.
Professional services and hospitality drive the biggest local increases
Professional and business services recorded the largest percentage gain among the area’s major industries, rising 16.7% from 7,800 jobs to 9,100. Leisure and hospitality added about 800 jobs to reach 14,600, a 5.8% increase.
Education and health services also expanded, climbing 1.3% to 15,900 jobs. Wholesale trade rose 5% to 2,100 jobs, and transportation, warehousing and utilities increased 2% to 5,100.
The combined natural resources, mining and construction sector edged up 0.9% to 11,200 jobs. Together, those figures show a metro area benefiting from growth in office, service, travel and logistics work.
Several industries slipped, including information and federal government
Not every sector gained. Information employment fell 9.1% from 1,100 to 1,000 jobs, while retail trade declined 0.8% to 11,800. Federal government employment also dropped 12.5%, from about 800 to 700 jobs.
Manufacturing, financial activities and other services were unchanged from a year earlier. Those flat readings suggest that some parts of the local economy have stabilized even as others move downward.
Statewide, federal government employment was down about 3,900 positions, or 9.6%, from 40,700 to 36,800. Crabb said much of that decrease stemmed from federal job cuts that took effect in late 2025.
Utah adds jobs, but workers face a longer search
Across Utah, employment grew 1.2% over the year, adding an estimated 20,600 jobs and bringing the statewide count to nearly 1.79 million. National employment increased 0.3% over the same period.
Utah’s unemployment rate was 3.5%, with about 64,100 people unemployed. Private-sector employment statewide rose 1.6%, adding 23,600 jobs.
Crabb said professional and business services accounted for about 40% of Utah’s job gains. The sector added 8,500 positions statewide and grew 4.2%, while education and health services added 4,900 jobs, leisure and hospitality added 4,000 and construction added 3,800.
Even with those gains, the labor market appears harder for some job seekers. Long-term unemployment rose more than 30% over the year, the average job search lengthened from about 17 weeks to nearly 21 weeks, and the number of Utahns working part time who wanted full-time hours increased 25% to 17,900.