The Economy of Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City's economy has come a long way since its early days as a haven for the Mormon religion. It has gone through several incarnations ranging from agriculture based to mining based to service based. Today modern Salt Lake City offers a range of job options from pin mixer operator to bank loan officer. If you're moving to Salt Lake City and wondering whether your current job skills will be adequate or whether you should look into re-training options, this overview of Salt Lake City's economy should provide you with enough information to make an informed decision.

Government, Health Care, and Tourism

As both a state capitol and a large city, Salt Lake City has many opportunities for bureaucrats and office workers at the local, state, and federal levels. There are also several non-government entities that focus on social research of advocacy, such as the Sutherland Institute and Equality Utah. Though home health services are not a part of government in the United States, there are several private hospitals and health clinics. A large part of the economy is also supported by Salt Lake's City's most prominent feature: its scenery. Those trained in tourism, hospitality, or outdoor sport instruction will probably find many positions that appeal to them.

Manufacturing, Distribution, and Retail

Salt Lake City first began to grow as a result of its location, on the road between California and the East, and still remains an important link in the road, rail, and air transportation network that distributes manufactured goods nationwide. A significant amount of industrial work goes on in the city as well, from the manufacture of shoal draft keels to the construction of new high-rise buildings downtown. Some oil refining and precious metals mining still goes on as well. Major retailers in the area include Smith's Food and Drug, KFC, ZCMI, American Stores, and Sears Grand.

Banking and High Tech

Finance is a major industry for Salt Lake City because it is one of only seven states that allow commercially-owned industrial banks. The Mormon Church owns or manages several companies in the city, such as Desert Management and Zions Bancorporation, that deal with everything from banking to selling real estate. The explosion in popularity of Salt Lake City as a location for headquarters offices has led to an increase in opportunities for realtors. High tech companies with large operations in the city include eBay, Micron, Unisys, and 3M.

Religion and Education

One of the city's larger employers is the public University of Utah. It offers opportunities for administrators and teachers not just in undergraduate fields but also in law, medicine, and athletics. Other colleges and technical schools of varying levels of respectability exist as well, some of which cater to Mormon students. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints itself provides job opportunities in many fields to Mormon residents. There are also numerous small-time opportunities, offering faux finish workshops, music lessons, and sports tutorials depending on your level of skill.