Utah isn't generally thought of as a manufacturing state, but manufacturing plays an enormous role in the state's economy. According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau, Utah manufacturing output grew from less than $10 billion in 2000 to $17.47 billion in 2014. Utah manufacturers accounted for 12.4 percent of the state's output in 2014 and in 2015 the state's 3,051 manufacturers employed 125,300 workers in 2015, or nearly 10 percent of the state's workforce. Add distribution to the mix and Utah stands out as one of the top states in the nation for manufacturing and distribution employment with an employee base of more than 190,000 people.
Because manufacturing is so important to the state's economy, the economic development office in the state continues to position Utah as a strategic location for manufacturing operations.
Source: EDCUtah