According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provisional estimates, in July 2003 the seasonally adjusted civilian labor force in Utah numbered 1,205,800, with approximately 63,100 workers unemployed, yielding an unemployment rate of 5.2%, compared to the national average of 6.2% for the same period. Since the beginning of the BLS data series in 1978, the highest unemployment rate recorded was 10.5% in April 1983. The historical low was 2.9% in March 1997. In 2001, an estimated 7.6% of the labor force was employed in construction; 12.5% in manufacturing; 5.3% in transportation, communications, and public utilities; 19.8% in trade; 5.0% in finance, insurance, and real estate; 24.1% in services; 15.4% in government; and 2.4% in agriculture.
Utah's union movement weakened in the 1980s as mining and heavy manufacturing industries mechanized, which resulted in the elimination of thousands of jobs. The US Department of Labor reported that in 2002, 60,000 of Utah's 973,000 employed wage and salary workers were members of unions. This represented 6.2% of those so employed, down from 6.8% in 2001. The national average is 13.2%. In all, 73,000 workers (7.5%) were represented by unions. In addition to union members, this category includes workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union contract. Utah is one of 22 states with a right-to-work law.