Media Mentions

SALT LAKE CITY – The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute is working on a new report looking at Utahns struggling with disabilities. The institute’s findings paint an eye-opening picture, and it’s one director of industry research Laura Summers wants to spread. “Overall, national surveys… estimate between 12% and 25% of adults in Utah do have a disability. That is a significant portion of our adult population,” said Summers.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) —The Beehive State has the largest share of religious adherents out of every other state in the nation, according to new research from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. The research found that 76.1% of Utahns adhere to a religious affiliation, which has been steadily increasing over the last decade. The next highest state was Alabama at 63.6%.

SALT LAKE CITY — Passed this year under SB173, the “Market Informed Compensation for Teachers” program was created in an effort to increase teacher retention. While Utah ranks relatively high in that area, a December report from the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute indicated the state may struggle to keep early career teachers in the future.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah will see 20% of its population hit retirement age by 2060, report says. That could impact the workforce, the housing market and more. Utah has long been known as the youngest state (with a median age of 32, according to the U.S. Census Bureau), but declining fertility rates and an aging adult population means the state is getting older.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s consumer sentiment decreased by 2.2% in April (from 78.0 in March to 76.3), according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. A similar survey by the University of Michigan found that sentiment decreased by 2.8% among Americans as a whole during the same time (from 79.4 to 77.2).

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's economy remains strong, but intrinsically tied factors such as workforce shortages and housing affordability are looming challenges that require attention if the Beehive State wants to maintain its standing as the nation's best economy.

SALT LAKE CITY — While this year's snow collection ended up being better than normal, it still pales in comparison to what happened a year ago, showcasing just how special the 2022-23 season was in Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY — The heart of Utah’s tech community is still far from the astronomical housing prices in Silicon Valley, but affordability is getting worse. Despite their nearly identical names, Clint Betts doesn’t want Silicon Slopes to become Silicon Valley in one way: housing costs. “I think that we need to avoid the pitfalls of Silicon Valley,” Betts, the CEO of Silicon Slopes, said, “in Silicon Valley, if you don’t work in tech, you’re priced out. You can’t afford to live there. We need to be doing everything in our power in the state of Utah to avoid that happening[...]

SALT LAKE CITY — Each year, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute recognizes individuals and entities that work, often behind the scenes and with little fanfare, to help our community prosper. We call them “Informed Decision Makers” and select them based on criteria consistent with the Institute’s committable core values: responsibility to the community, integrity and relevance, accountability, collaboration, and a positive work environment.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah government and business leaders united at a Friday gathering to celebrate the state’s high-flying economy, including a plaudit earlier this week from The Wall Street Journal that named the Salt Lake metropolitan area the country’s top spot for jobs, but also cautioned that rising challenges must be addressed to keep the mojo rising.