Recent Research
Recently Published
The most recent research published by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
Salt Lake and Utah County Subcounty Estimates, 2010-2017
As more years pass since the decennial census, the need for current housing and population estimates intensifies. This is crucial in Utah, the third fastest-growing state in the nation (2016 to 2017). This report presents annual subcounty population, household, and housing unit estimates for cities and census tract areas in Salt Lake and Utah county from 2010 to 2017. For both counties, 2016 to 2017 represents the largest and most rapid population growth of this seven-year period. Though Utah County is about half the population of Salt Lake County, it gained more new residents from 2016 to 2017, proving that[...]
September 2018 Economic Summary
The Utah economy remains healthy. Every major industrial sector expanded in 2017, contributing a total of 43,500 new jobs over the year. An annual employment growth rate of 3.1% is on par with the state’s long-term average and is among the strongest in the nation. In 2017, Utah’s construction sector posted the highest job growth with 5.4%.
Utah’s Strategic Clusters: Performance, Benefits, Workforce Needs, and Rural Utah
Utah’s six strategic clusters were designated in June 2005 and November 2006 and became the focus of economic development efforts. This report evaluates their performance before and since inception relative to the rest of the state’s economy and relative to their performance nationwide. It analyzes the clusters’ resilience during the Great Recession and its recovery, and assesses prospects for future growth. We also examine the economic benefits the clusters provide through their supply chain connections to the rest of the state’s economy. We analyze workforce needs by examining growth forecasts for the top occupations used by each cluster. We assess[...]
Ivory-Boyer Second Quarter 2018 Construction Report
The value of all permit authorized construction in Utah during the first half of 2018 was $4.3 billion. Residential construction has been the principle driver at $2.7 billion, a 15.9 percent increase from mid-year 2017. Similarly, the number of building permits for new residential permits is up 13.7 percent from 2017, with 12,772 permits issued statewide (Figure 1). Condominium, townhome, and duplex permits led the state in residential growth with a 25 percent increase in units from January through June 2018. Nonresidential construction experienced a 15.4 percent drop in value compared to mid-year 2017. Additions, alterations, and repairs experienced a[...]
August 2018 Economic Summary
The Utah economy remains healthy. Every major industrial sector expanded in 2017, contributing a total of 43,500 new jobs over the year. An annual employment growth rate of 3.1% is on par with the state’s long-term average and is among the strongest in the nation. In 2017, Utah’s construction sector posted the highest job growth with 5.4%.
Social Determinants of Health: Data Points
What are social determinants of health? The majority of a person's health is impacted by factors outside of the health care system: genetics, social, environmental, and behavioral. Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. (HealthyPeople.gov)
Economic Impacts of Utah’s Life Sciences Industry
The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and BioUtah, the trade association for life sciences companies in the state, commissioned the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute to analyze the role of the life sciences industry in Utah’s economy.
Video: The Utah Economy: Five Things to Know
People need to understand the Utah economy in order to make informed decisions. When asked what makes the state economy tick, these are the fives things you should know.