The workforce development advantage stems from having several major universities within the county boundaries. “Utah County hosts five major universities. Utah County is a pipeline for talent. These schools feed local businesses with skilled graduates in the tech sector, business, healthcare, engineering, and they’re finding jobs right here,” Curtis Blair, President and CEO for the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, explains. Employment statistics support this optimism, with Utah maintaining a 2.9% unemployment rate while adding approximately 11,000 jobs annually at a 2% growth rate. HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND SMART SOLUTIONS Housing affordability is currently Utah County’s most pressing challenge, a direct consequence of its economic success. Utah ranked as the nation’s 9th most expensive housing market in 2024, with median single-family home prices reaching $547,700. The state’s housing affordability crisis has become so acute that it topped Utah Foundation surveys as residents’ primary concern. “What has been one of our toughest challenges is 280 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09
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