SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Chamber, in partnership with the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, has released the June 2026 Roadmap to Prosperity Economic Dashboard to inform business leaders’ understanding of Utah’s economy. This tool prioritizes key data on the state’s economic outlook and actionable context for decision-makers.
“Utah ranked fourth among states for annual job growth in May, and our labor force participation rate remains the sixth highest in the nation,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Utah Chamber. “Those rankings reflect real advantages Utah has built over time. But the same dashboard shows participation has softened in recent months, making it a trend to watch. It’s a reminder to continue building workforce opportunities and investing in our communities that make this state a place people want to work and stay.”
Three essential insights from the June 2026 Roadmap to Prosperity Dashboard include:
- Utah showed 1.0% year-over job growth in May, compared to the national growth of 0.2%. Employment expanded in seven of the state’s eleven major industries, and Utah ranked fourth among states for annual job growth in May.
- Lower gasoline prices coincide with an improvement in consumer sentiment. The Zions Bank Consumer Sentiment Index Increased 1.6% in June from 70.3 in May to 71.5. Nationally, consumer sentiment improved 10.5% reversing a 10.0% decrease in May.
- Labor force participation remains high but has softened in recent months. While Utah maintains the sixth highest labor force participation rate in the nation at 66.5%, the rate has decreased or remained flat since August 2024.
The Dashboard is updated monthly, providing essential insights, tracking timely and leading measures, and sharing pertinent indicators. This provides leaders with critical and timely information to make informed decisions.
“The latest dashboard shows Utah’s economy retaining some underlying strength, including continued job growth and a modest improvement in consumer sentiment, but the broader economic picture remains uneven,” said Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. “Continued uncertainty, fueled by ongoing global conflict, is likely to add to the pressures Utahns are already feeling, particularly as it affects prices, planning decisions, and overall economic performance in the months ahead.”
To view the dashboard, click here.
About the Utah Chamber
The Utah Chamber is a statewide chamber of commerce, representing the diverse voices of the state’s 80,000-plus employers and their employees. The Chamber unites the voices of Utah businesses, local chambers and industry associations to build a stronger business environment, increase healthy job creation and support prosperous communities across the state.
About the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute serves Utah by preparing economic, demographic, and public policy research that helps the state prosper. We are Utah’s demographic experts, leaders in the Utah economy, and specialists in public policy and survey research. We are an honest broker of INFORMED RESEARCH, which guides INFORMED DISCUSSIONS and leads to INFORMED DECISIONS™. For more information, please visit gardner.utah.edu or call 801-587-3717.