Workforce: Utah

Overview & Synopsis

In the decade leading up to 2012, Utah will see the second highest rate of job growth in the U.S. and an increasing demand for well-educated employees. Technology-related professions will see their ranks swell by 43 percent, while healthcare will grow by 42 percent. Teachers' numbers will increase by 37 percent: nearly 24,000 new jobs for educators (including librarians) will need to be filled. Managers will experience a 21 percent increase; when retirements are added in, over 3,800 managerial openings will need to be filled each year. The growth of these sectors is good news for Utah's citizens, since wages for jobs in these areas are significantly higher than the average for Utah in general. The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) was launched specifically to address the shortage of workforce-training opportunities in medicine, dentistry, and other professional fields. WICHE and its 15 member states work collaboratively to expand educational access and excellence for all citizens of the West. By promoting innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy among states and institutions, WICHE strengthens higher education's contributions to the region's social, economic, and civic life. This publication briefly introduces three student exchange programs being utilized by students in Utah to pursue studies in such fields as nursing, biology, business administration, optometry, podiatry, and veterinary science. (Contains 2 tables.)