This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah's unemployment rate held steady at 6 percent in May, but the pace of job formation picked up modestly, the state Department of Workforce Services said Friday.

The number of jobs across the state expanded by 2.4 percent last month, up from 2.1 percent in April. Employers created some 28,800 jobs in the 12 months ending May 31, the department reported.

By contrast, the U.S. unemployment rate was 8.2 percent in May. Job growth expanded by just 1.4 percent.

Nearly all of Utah's industrial sectors continued to add jobs over the past year. The biggest gains were posted by the professional and business sector, which added 9,100 employees. Manufacturing put on 5,000 workers in the 12-month period, with gains in both durable and nondurable products.

Leisure and hospitality was the only sector of Utah's economy that lost jobs. Employment there fell by 1,400 jobs.

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Where the jobs are

A look at employment growth by industrial sector from May 2011 to May 2012:

Professional and business services • 9,100 jobs

Manufacturing • 5,000

Construction • 3,300

Financial activities • 2,300

Education and health • 1,800

Information • 1,700

Natural resources • 1,000

Government • 600

Trade, transportation and utilities • 500

Other services • 400

Leisure and hospitality • 1,400 jobs were lost