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Show , 1979 Job Service reports indicates increase in Basin growth The Uintah Basin is experiencing broadly based economic growth as evidenced by nearly all indicators. This growth is being shared in some respects by each county in the district, according to the second quarter Employment Em-ployment Newsletter Uintah Basin District Job Service. However, labor force-related indicators in-dicators in Daggett County reflect a decline in economic activity from last year. Unemployment insurance activity ac-tivity during the first half of 1979 was up sharply from 1978. Initial claims increased in-creased 60 percent, total weeks claim rose 43.1 percent, and total benefits paid were 69.6 percent higher than year-ago levels. Fueled by these increases, in-creases, total unemployment in Daggett County rose by nearly 89.0 percent. This caused the unemployment unem-ployment rate to rise from 3.1 percent in second quarter 1978 to 5.7 percent in second quarter 1979. Over the same period the county's nohagricultural payroll employment only increased 3 percent. Also indicative of the weakening in Daggett's economy was the drop in commercial activity. Gross taxable sales fell substantially, and tourist room sales were 13.2 percent lower in first quarter 1979 than in 1978. New-car-and-truck sales and building construction are two areas that showed improvements over last year. Combined car and truck sales through first quarter 1979 were 22.2 percent higher than in first quarter 1978. The number of new dwelling units authorized for construction in Daggett County was higher this year, and building construction for the first half of 1979 was nearly 32 percent higher than year-ago levels. A slight drop in nonresidential building was more than offset by an increase in residential construction. As Daggett's economy showed signs of slowing down, most of Duchesne's indicators were at higher levels this year. A particularly large increase occurred in the valuations of nonresidential building construction, which, because of very low 1978 activity, ac-tivity, was nearly S'-fe times greater through June 1979 than June 1978. Increases In-creases in both residential construction valuation and new dwelling units built, along with nonresidential increases, enabled total construction valuation to rise by nearly 79 percent over year-ago levels. Commercial activity in Duchesne County showed very good growth. Gross taxable sales rose 34.2 percent and tourist room sales were nearly twice as high in first quarter 1979 than a year ago Combined car and truck sales through March 1979 were 73.3 percent higher than in 1978. Increases in sales for both cars and trucks contributed to the overall gain. Duchesne was the only county in the district to show a decrease in any of it's employment insurance components. Initial claims and total weeks claimed were both lower during the first half of 1979 compared to a year ago. This is evidenced by Duchesne's unemployment unem-ployment rate of 4.2 percent in second quarter 1979 being lower than the 4.4 percent in second quarter 1978. Economic activity in Uintah County showed improvement in most areas. Job openings and placements increased substantially in the first half of 1979 from the first half of 1978. The number of people filing applications for work in the county also rose from year-ago levels. Gross taxable sales in Uintah County during first quarter 1979 totaled $36.2 million, an increase of 21.9 percent over first quarter last year. However, tourist room sales showed a drop of nearly 13.0 percent. Total building construction valuation in Uintah County displayed good year-over year-over growth. A considerable increase in nonresidential building was responsible respon-sible for most of the gain. Residential building displayed a modest increase of 15.8 percent while the number of new dwelling units authorized for construction con-struction went down 13.1 percent. A weak spot in Uintah's economy was a higher level of unemployment insurance in-surance activity in the first half of 1979 compared to the first half of 1978. Increases In-creases occurred in all three areas with total benefits paid showing a particularly par-ticularly large year-over increase. |