Ogden Adding new Jobs
The Ogden metropolitan area added jobs faster than virtually all other major metropolitan areas in the nation during the second quarter of 2011, according to a new national report released today.
The report was produced by Brookings Mountain West, a partnership between the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
The Ogden-Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Weber, Morgan and Davis counties, ranked second among the nation's major metros, posting a quarterly job gain of 1.8 percent during the second quarter.
The Provo metro area was first with 1.9 percent in job growth.
By comparison, the nation's overall job gains during the second quarter measured 0.3 percent, the Brookings report indicates.
Although the job gains for the Ogden-Clearfield and Provo metros seem modest, the figures are telling regarding the condition of the national economy, said Kenan Fikri, who co-authored the Brookings report.
"It (the ranking of Ogden-Clearfield and Provo) is a testament to how dire the situation is," he said.
The U.S. remains in the grip of a recession, and skittish companies aren't hiring because consumers are using disposable income to pay down debt instead of purchasing goods and services, Fikri said.
Job gains in the Ogden-Clearfield metro have been sparked largely by growth in the manufacturing and leisure and hospitality industries, he said.
Ogden's push to become an outdoor-recreation equipment-manufacturing hub may be paying off, because those types of products can be exported overseas even during a national recession, Fikri said.
Richard McConkie, Ogden's director of community and economic development, credits Mayor Matthew Godfrey's vision with boosting local job growth.
"Mayor Godfrey's administration has focused on a pro-business climate and the outdoor quality of life that has been a successful formula for attracting businesses," he said.
Davis County officials have also worked diligently to attract new businesses and sustain those that already exist, said Bret Millburn, Davis County Commission vice chairman.
"We have put in a lot of effort to make sure that we have sites conducive for business growth and enhancement and in our relationship with Hill Air Force Base," he said.
Over the past 18 months, Davis County has added about 3,000 acres of property for business sites, largely through rezoning and tax increment financing in cooperation with municipalities, said Kent Sulser, director of economic development for the county.
"Because of land site development, we have created temporary construction jobs, and as projects complete and mature, other long-term jobs in manufacturing, distribution and assembly will come to fruition," he said.
It may not be a coincidence that the two Utah metro areas are leading the nation in job gains given the state's reputation as well-managed, Fikri said.
The Brookings report is indicative of the vision of Gov. Gary Herbert, Spencer Eccles, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, said in an email to the Standard-Examiner.
"Governor Herbert's leadership has continued to ensure that Utah has a predictable, stable and vibrant business environment," Eccles said.
"The Brookings report underscores that our partnerships with local governments and business communities have resulted in a job market that leads the nation."
Ogden Standard Examiner
