New federal data show that Wasatch Front counties are among the best in the nation for creating new jobs — but lag when it comes to increasing wages. Pay in all these counties remains below the national average.
For example, Utah County — where growth was fastest along the Wasatch Front — ranked No. 11 among the nation’s 356 largest counties for creating jobs between the first quarter of last year and the same period this year.
But at the same time, Utah County ranked only No. 60 for how much wages increased. The average wage in the county at the end of the first quarter was $938 a week, or $246 below the national average of $1,184.