Wrench Thrown Into Belief That Utah Is A Low Wage State

Jun 09, 2008 by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) A new report from the Utah Foundation shows that wages and salaries in Utah are more competitive than some official statistics give the state credit for. Utah Foundation President Stephen Kroes says oft-quoted numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show Utah wages at 82% of the national average, however...

"It turns out that that number is heavily influenced by the number of part time workers. And we think it's influenced by the age of the population as well," says Kroes. "We found some data through the census bureau, through the American Communities Survey, showing the wages of those who are full-time year-round workers. And we go from 82% of the national average all the way up to 95% of the national average."

Kroes says Utah is second only to Minnesota in the percentage of part time workers at 25% of the workforce. The study shows that Utah has more teenagers than the national average and the state ranks sixth in the number of male teens enrolled in school and employed. Kroes says the state's women also contribute to the high number of part time employees.

"We have something around 35% or 36% of women in the workforce are working part time in Utah, and that's by far the highest in the country," says Kroes. "Fifty-six percent of those who are working part time say they choose to do so because of personal and family obligations. Nationally that was only 38% or 39%, so we're very different from the rest of the nation in terms of women who choose to work part time because of family needs."

The report shows the state ranks 26th in the nation in median earnings for people who work full-time year-round. To listen to a longer conversation with Kroes, visit the Midday Metro page.

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