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Show Job Service says Labor report reflects growth The labor market and its inherent ups and downs reflect, to a great extent, the direction in which a particular section of the state and . nation is moving. In the interest of our readers the following information is reprinted for the Southwestern District of Utah for the Second Quarter of 197K. Prepared by Job Service (Utah Department of Employment Security) the report reflects some strong economic indicators in-dicators for the counties of Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington. Following is the report as released to the public this past week: Labor Force, Employment, Unemployment During the first half of 1978 the size of the labor force in the Southwestern District was 4.3 percent larger than in the first half of 1977. Total employment em-ployment during this same time period increased more rapidly with a 5.7 percent increase. The average number of people unemployed through the January to June period of 1978 was about 13.0 percent less than during the same period of 1977. Unemployment in July showed the number out of work was 9 percent lower than in July 1977. The number of nonagricultural jobs in July had increased 5.1 percent from July 1977. The construction, trade, finance, and service sectors showed the larger percentage gains. Job Market Activities Job market and unemployment insurance activities at Utah Job Service offices reflect some of the labor market gains in the district. Job openings during the first half of 1978 increased by 55.0 percent, and placements rose by over 51.0 percent from a year ago. Initial claims, total weeks claimed, and total unemployment unem-ployment insurance benefitsd benefits paid all showed substantial decreases through June of this year compared to last. Taxable Sales Both gross taxable sales and tourist room sales in first quarter 1978 increased in-creased over a year ago. The district's gross taxable sales were up .nearly 14.0 percent and tourist room 'sales increased over 21.0 percent 'from first quarter 1977. New-Car-and -Truck Sales New-car-and-truck sales through May in the Southwestern District slumped from year ago levels. Total new-car-and-truck sales in the first five months of 1978 were down 25.0 percent from year ago sales. Foreign car sales had the largest decrease with a 48.0 percent drop in sales. Building Construction Through the first six months of 1978 there were 551 new dwelling permits issued in the district. This number was 16.0 percent more than in 1977. The valuation of these units was up 16.0 percent from a year ago. Value of nonresidential construction so far this year was more than double what it was in 1977. This considerable increase in-crease provided much of the impetus for the overall construction increase of nearly 56.0 percent in the first half of 1978 compared to a year ago. Production of Crude Oil and Natural Gas Crude oil production in the district through April of this year was down nearly 33.0 percent compared to the same four months last year. The number of jobs in Beaver County through the first seven months of 1978 was approximately 5 percent greater than for the same period of 1977. All of the major industrial sectors have shared in providing the increased jobs As the number of jobs increased, the number of people unemployed has decreased over the past year. In July unemployment was 12 percent lower than a y ear ago, w ith the seasonally adjusted unemployment unem-ployment rate down from 7 1 percent in July 1977 to 6 0 percent in July this year. Reduced levels of unemployment unem-ployment have resulted in a 45 percent per-cent reduction in weeks of unemployment unem-ployment claimed by those filing for unemployment insurance benefits. Consequently, the amount of benefits paid to claimants for the first half of 1978 was $49,000 down 55 percent from the amount paid for the same period in 1977. Business and commercial activity, as measured by sales tax collections and tourist room tax collections, during the first quarter of this year was at significantly higher levels. Gross taxable sales for the quarter were $3.4 million up 34 percent from year earlier. Tourist room sales this quarter in 1978 were $118,200. an increase in-crease of 43 percent from the first quarter of 1977. During the first six months of 1978 building construction value in Beaver County was $1.3 million, nearly double that of the same period in 1977 Both residential and nonresidential building contributed to this increase. New-car-and-truck sales in the county during the first 5 months ! I'i78 were down from the same months of 1977. New car sales dropped by 22 percent, but this loss was offset by an increase of fi percent in numbers of new trucks sold. (.ill field Comity Labor Force, employment and nonagricultural job levels in Garfield County have been approximately 5 percent greater in the first half of 1978 than in the same period of 1977. All of the major nonagricultural employing sectors have contributed to the increased in-creased number of jobs. Business and commercial activity in the county during the first part of 1978 has not been as good as might be expected. Gross taxable sales for the first quarter were down 13 percent, but tourist room sales were up marginally for the same period. New-car-and-truck sales were at a slightly lower level through May of this year than last year. New-car sales were down nearly 9 percent, while new-truck new-truck sales were the same as last year. Building construction in the "county, with the exception of the new million dollar stake center, was down from last year for the first six months of the year. Kane County Economic activity in Kane County this year has been at higher levels than in 1977. Employment levels in the nonagricultural industries have been about 5 percent greater this year, with all major sectors sharing in the job gains. Concurrently, the number of unemployed has been lower this year so that in July the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Kane County was 6.5 percent compared to 7.5 percent a year ago. Gross taxable sales in the first quarter of this year were $2.8 million, up 14 percent from the previous year's first quarter. Also, tourist room sales for the same comparative periods were up 35 percent this year. New-car-and-truck sales through the month of May were nearly the same as last year. Increased new-car sales were more than offset by decreased truck sales so that total vehicle sales dropped almost 5 percent. per-cent. The value of new building construction con-struction in the first half of 1978 was 2.5 times that of the same months last year. Both residential and nonresidential construction participated par-ticipated in the gains. Iron County In general, Iron County has experienced ex-perienced higher levels of economic activity in 1978 than was the case in 1977. July employment levels were about 5 percent higher than a year ago, with all major sectors providing increased numbers of jobs. For the same month, unemployment was down nearly 18 percent from July 1977. Consequently, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate this July was 5.3 percent compared to 6.7 percent a year ago. The Utah Job Service office in Cedar City received 61 percent more job openings from employers through the first six months of 1978 over the same time in 1977. They have placed 26 percent more people on jobs so far this year than last year. During the first quarter of this year, gross taxable sales in the county totaled almost $19 million, up 17 percent from the same three months of 1977. For that same quarter, tourist room sales were up 61 percent from last year. A 23 percent increase in new residential construction during the first six months of this year more than offset a large decrease in nonresid-netial nonresid-netial building. The total valuation of building construction through June of this year was up 4 percent from a year ago. Washington County Employment in Utah's Dixie so far in 1978 has been more than 5 percent ahead of that w hich existed in 1977. In July there were 5.532 nonagricultural jobs in Washington County, compared to 5.246 a year ago. All major employing em-ploying sectors shared in providing these new jobs. For July, unemployment unem-ployment was down nearly 4 percent from the preceding year, with a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5.3 percent this July compared to 5.7 percent in July 1977. Mixed trends were experienced in the commercial activity levels for the first quarter of this year compared to 1977 Gross taxable sales at $22 6 million, were up 12 percent: but tourist room sales at SO 7 million, had dropped 5 percent this year. Also, new-car-and-truck sales through the month of May were down by one-third i33 percent i trom from a year ago. The building construction industry during the first six months of this year totaled $17 5 million in value, a gain of 27 percent from last year. Most of this gain is attributed to the increased value of nonresidential construction which increased by 2 5 times over that of the first half of last year. There were 36 more new dwelling units authorized for construction through June of this year than last year. |