May 30, 2024 (Salt Lake City) — Utah’s international goods exports in 2023 totaled $17.4 billion, generating over $4.0 billion in earnings and 71,891 jobs, according to a report released this week by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. These exports contributed over $8.0 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) and $16.7 billion to the state’s gross output. The impact of these exports represented 2.6% of total earnings in the state, 3.0% of total employment, 2.9% of total GDP, and 3.6% of gross output. […]

May 21, 2024 (Salt Lake City) — Utah’s distinctive demographic profile features a youthful, aging, and predominantly urban state that is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. This update to the 2021 data book from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute on Utah’s demographic characteristics reveals significant variation and marked differences in the economic, education, health, and housing outcomes by age, disability, ethnicity, geographic location (urban/rural), race, and sex. […]

May 20, 2024 (Salt Lake City) — A new summary analysis from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute provides socioeconomic insights in urban and rural Utah. Nine of every ten Utahns live in an urban area, as defined by the Census Bureau. While all counties contain some rural residents, ranging from 1-82% of residents, 11 counties are considered completely rural. “Utah’s urban and rural residents share similar income levels, household types, and educational attainment but vary in age profile and racial and ethnic makeup,” said Mallory Bateman, director of demographic research at the Gardner Institute. “Health metrics and housing dynamics [...]

May 17, 2024 (Salt Lake City) —The Utah Economic Council this week honored retiring Utah Department of Workforce Services chief economist Mark Knold with its Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his 34 years of service to the state. […]

May 17, 2024 (Salt Lake City) —A new summary analysis from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shows that Utah has the largest share of religious adherents of any state, with an estimated 76% of the population. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of adherents of the largest religions of the state increased, while the number of congregations in the state also increased by 8.3%, from 5,557 in 2010 to 6,018 in 2020. […]

May 15, 2024 (Salt Lake City) — National surveys estimate that between 12% and 25% of Utah adults have a disability. A new summary analysis from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute finds that data across different surveys show that Utahns with a disability are more likely to have less income, lower education attainment, higher housing cost burdens, lower access to health coverage, and poor health. […]

 May 13, 2024 (Salt Lake City) — Despite Utah’s standing as the youngest state in the nation, its population continues to grow older due to declining fertility rates and the aging of the adult population. A new summary analysis from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute dives into different demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of Utahns by age group, highlighting differences between younger and older Utahns. […]

May 9, 2024 (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). Utah’s April consumer sentiment marks a second consecutive month of lower sentiment in Utah than the nation. […]

April 18, 2024 (Salt Lake City) — Utah is home to 15 ski resorts, including the nation’s largest (Park City). A new fact sheet from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shows that Utah’s ski industry contributed $1.94 billion in nonresident visitor spending during the 2022/23 ski season, generating $197.9 million in state and local tax revenue. The industry directly supported 25,980 statewide jobs and experienced a record 7.1 million skier days during this same ski season. […]

April 16, 2024 (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. […]