Utah unemployment rate hits a five-year low

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Utah's unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in more than five years, according to new figures from the Department of Workforce Services.

The state's unemployment fell to 3.9 percent in January — the lowest it has been since November 2008.

"This is terrific news," said Gov. Gary R. Herbert in a news release. "For the first time since the start of the Great Recession in Utah, our unemployment rate has fallen below 4 percent. It has been cut by more than half since I took office. This attests to the fact that our economy is strong and getting stronger."

In December 2013, the unemployment rate was at 4.1 percent, according to the Department of Workforce Services. The national rate of employment during that time was 6.6 percent.

While the unemployment rate is dropping, Utah's labor force has grown by 6 percent, according to Herbert.

Jessica Miller