Utah’s workforce has experienced a notable shift in recent years, with a growing number of workers embracing remote work. In 2024, approximately 37.3% of the state’s working population was engaged in remote roles. The rise of remote jobs in Utah across various sectors gained momentum due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated remote work adoption and reshaped the state’s employment landscape.

This shift has been particularly pronounced in the tech sector, with Utah’s “Silicon Slopes” region now housing over 1,000 tech companies. The pandemic further accelerated this trend, as remote work facilitated the relocation of tech professionals to Utah, contributing to a booming real estate market and a vibrant community culture.

Looking ahead, the future of remote work in Utah holds significant promise. There’s continued growth in job opportunities, and current remote work trends underscore a Utah workforce increasingly valuing flexibility. This evolution presents both opportunities and challenges. For businesses, working from home in Utah offers a larger talent pool and cost savings, but maintaining productivity and engagement are challenges.

It’s important to examine the current landscape in more detail.

State of Remote Work in Utah: Key Statistics and Trends

Here are some of the most significant remote work statistics and trends in the state:

1. A leader in remote work accessibility

When examining work-from-home trends in Utah, a unique pattern emerges. Utah stands out nationally for making remote opportunities accessible across various educational backgrounds. According to 2023 data analyzing the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, Utah leads the nation with approximately 23% of high school graduates working remotely – the highest percentage in America. 

Even more remarkably, 20% of Utah workers with less than a high school education access remote work opportunities, demonstrating how the Utah workforce has embraced flexibility at all levels. This democratization of remote work contrasts with national patterns where remote opportunities typically concentrate among highly educated workers.

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For comparison, Maryland leads in remote workers with bachelor’s degrees at 59%. Utah’s inclusive approach creates pathways for career advancement regardless of educational background.

Income data further supports this trend – Utah has the highest percentage (20%) of Americans earning under $25,000 who work remotely. These numbers suggest employers have successfully extended remote jobs in Utah beyond just high-paying knowledge work. 

As you consider the future of remote work, Utah’s model demonstrates how companies can create inclusive policies that benefit workers across education and income levels, potentially reducing economic disparities while maintaining productivity.

2. Tech-driven remote work growth potential

Utah’s position as a tech powerhouse may accelerate remote work trends throughout the state’s economy. According to CompTIA’s 2024 State of the Tech Workforce report, Utah ranks #1 nationally for projected tech occupation growth, with an impressive 33% expected increase from 2024-2034. This exceptional growth reflects how deeply technology has embedded itself within Utah’s economic identity, with the tech sector contributing 10% to the state’s overall economy.

The robust presence of tech – with 126,592 tech employees representing 7.1% of Utah’s workforce – has established a culture where flexible work arrangements are normalized and expected. This tech-forward environment serves as a laboratory for remote work innovation, with companies across finance, healthcare, and professional services adopting similar approaches. 

3. Disability employment and remote access

Utah falls slightly behind the national average in remote work opportunities for individuals with disabilities. In 2023, 14.6% of individuals with disabilities worked from home in Utah, compared to 16.4% of all workers. 

However, there’s positive momentum nationwide that affects Utah’s workforce. A record 22.5% of Americans with disabilities were employed in 2023—a significant 1.2 percentage point increase from 2022. This growth rate was three times higher than that of Americans without disabilities.

The landscape of remote jobs in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah presents unique opportunities to close this gap. Remote work eliminates many traditional barriers for workers with disabilities, including challenging commutes, inaccessible office spaces, and the need for case-by-case accommodation requests.

The data suggests a valuable talent pool that Utah employers can tap into through inclusive remote work policies. The share of workers with disabilities in typically higher-paying management, business, science, and arts occupations has outpaced the growth for workers without disabilities, decreasing disparity in these roles between 2019 and 2023.

4. Salt Lake City as a remote work hub

Salt Lake City has established itself as a premier destination for remote jobs, significantly outpacing national averages. Approximately 18.5% of the metro area’s labor force worked remotely in 2023, compared to the national average of just 13.8%.

This trend varies notably across industries within Utah. Fields like real estate, waste management services, finance, insurance, and leasing show the highest concentration of remote workers. Conversely, the armed forces, arts, recreation, and food service sectors maintain lower remote work rates due to their in-person nature.

While there has been a gradual shift back toward office environments nationally in recent months, hybrid work trends show that many Utah workers continue to benefit from splitting time between home and office locations. This flexibility has become particularly important as companies balance productivity needs with employee preferences.

The strength of Salt Lake City as a remote work hub positions Utah businesses uniquely to attract talent while maintaining competitive advantages in recruiting and retention. For companies looking to capitalize on this, partner with reputable recruiting agencies in Salt Lake City. At Recruiting Connection, we can provide access to top talent across all industries.

5. Infrastructure and housing advantages

Utah ranks as an exceptional state for remote work benefits, securing the second position on WalletHub’s Best States for Working from Home list. This impressive ranking stems from Utah having the second-lowest electricity costs nationwide—a significant factor for full-time remote workers—along with reasonable internet prices and ranking among the top 10 states for broadband access.

These infrastructure advantages create ideal conditions for sustainable remote work arrangements. The state offers remote workers spacious environments, boasting the largest homes in America with an average of 2,800 square feet. 

Along the Wasatch Front, including Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Provo, approximately 20% of the workforce works remotely. These professionals typically hold bachelor’s degrees or higher, work in business services, finance, education, and healthcare sectors, and earn a median income of about $65,000 annually.

Utah’s family-centered culture also creates a gravitational pull that draws remote workers back to the state. Many Utah companies have adopted hybrid work models, allowing employees the flexibility to work from home several days weekly. This approach shows the benefits of remote work for employees by offering the lifestyle advantages that make Utah particularly attractive to remote professionals.

6. Evolving government remote work policies

However, there are signs of a possible shift in Utah’s approach to remote work, particularly in state government. After initially embracing telework, many state agencies are now requiring employees to come into the office at least two days weekly, with supervisors expected in-office three days per week.

More changes could be on the horizon as the workplace continues to stabilize from the pandemic and offices find opportunities to reevaluate the way state workforces are managed. This change reflects broader hybrid work trends where officials are seeking to balance the benefits of remote work for employers with the value of in-person collaboration.

While approximately 55% of Utah Department of Workforce Services employees still work remotely, state officials acknowledge they’re following the private sector’s lead, particularly tech companies that have implemented hybrid models. Though the days when most state employees work solely in-office “are gone,” this evolving approach may foreshadow similar adjustments in private sector remote job arrangements in the coming years.

Adapting to a New Work Era

Utah has transformed its workforce through widespread remote work adoption, creating unique opportunities for workers across educational backgrounds and income levels. The state’s thriving tech industry has normalized flexible work arrangements, while Salt Lake City has established itself as a prominent remote work destination with strong infrastructure advantages.

Despite challenges in extending remote opportunities to workers with disabilities and adapting to evolving government policies, Utah’s inclusive approach demonstrates how flexibility can benefit workers at all levels while maintaining productivity.

Companies navigating this changing landscape can benefit from working with professional recruiters in Utah, like Recruiting Connection. As experienced executive recruiters in Salt Lake City, we connect organizations with talent that excels in any workplace environment.

Reach out to us and find your ideal talent match!