Building things are a part of a vibrant economy. Construction jobs and purchases translate to other jobs, and that is a needed part of the total employment picture. Construction employment in Utah fell by nearly a third during the recent recession. Most of this came from fewer homes being built. Although non-residential construction also slide some during the recession, non-residential projects were the bulwark upon which construction continued to find some anchoring in Utah. Large projects like the building of City Creek in Salt Lake City or the major I-15 reconstruction in Utah County helped keep construction afloat. But many of these recession-blocking projects are finished or winding down, to the point there is some concern about non-residential construction taking a step back. But it’s projects like these at the University of Utah that can help step into that void and keep non-residential construction a contributing part of the economy in a time when we need its help.
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