Thursday, April 12, 2012

Basin’s low jobless rate blessing, challenge

The Uintah Basin’s low unemployment rate — just 4.1 percent — is good news for people looking for work, but it also makes things tough for those looking to hire.

The Basin’s figure is below Utah’s statewide unemployment rate of 5.7 percent, according to figures from the Utah Department of Workforce Services. That is below the national average of 8.3 percent.

Those numbers are, on the whole, good for the Basin, meaning that more people here can find a job than people in other parts of the country. The drilling boom has given jobs to people in the Basin and attracted workers from outside, spurring a population growth and the economic benefits that come with it.

It also means employers are hurting for workers. Vernal Express