OUR TH YEAR www.slenterprise.com January 4, 2021 Volume , Number 24 $1.50 5O OF NOTE Jobless rate up a little, but job creation strong As the pandemic rages in Utah, the state’s unemployment rate responded with a slight uptick in November. The jobless rate went up to 4.3 percent from October’s 4.1 percent, according to numbers released Just holding it in by the Utah Department of Workforce Ser- Half of Utahns say they suf- vices (DWS). A quiet railroad spur sits near where offi cials envision the Utah Inland Port will be developed. The national unemployment rate fered from “quiet stress” in dropped from 6.9 percent in October to 6.7 2020, according to a survey by Although Salt Lake City's Northwest Quadrant will be the port's base of operations, developers expect a system of satellite ports throughout the state. percent in November. American Addiction Centers. “Utah’s job market continues to incre- Some widely known symptoms mentally improve with thousands of job of stress are visible outbursts, openings in multiple industries,” said Mark shouting, swearing and anger. By Excitement growing over rural Knold, chief economist at DWS. “Utah’s comparison, “quiet stress” can economy has shown itself to be one of cause an individual to underreact the nation’s best in re-employing workers. and not speak up about how they Utah's inclusion in Inland Port While the pace of job improvement has tem for moving goods through, into and out feel. Wyoming and Hawaii had slowed in the last few months, we antici- Brice Wallace of Utah. pate continued job gains amidst this moder- the highest figures, 75 percent, The Enterprise “We couldn’t be more excited about ating trend as the economy moves through while West Virginia had the low- anything. Maybe the biggest thing that can the winter months.” est, 20 percent. It sounds like a children’s riddle. happen to Southern Utah would be the in- DWS reported that Utah’s nonfarm COVID-19 News What is not a location but is instead land port,” Frank Nichols, a Cedar City- payroll employment for November wa 0.2 a system? What do people envision as a based developer, said during the meeting. percent lower than November of last year, page 2 single place but will instead be statewide? “It’s just much bigger than most people with 2,800 fewer jobs. Utah’s current em- Industry News Briefs What has a starting point but no end? can even dream. What we’re doing is we’re ployment level stands at 1,590,100. pages 7-9 The answer is Utah’s Inland Port. putting an interchange on the world. … If it Following the release of the Novem- But whatever it becomes and when- happens, then we’re connected to the world ber employment numbers for Utah, the Business Calendar ever it is developed, it appears to certain- in a better way than ever. … The world will U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows page 11 ly be welcome in rural Utah. During a re- fi nd us. It will fi nd all these ports. I’m just Utah is ranked No. 2 for total job growth in cent Utah Inland Port Authority meeting ecstatic about it.” the U.S. at minus-0.2 percent. In addition, that took place online, several representa- While much of the public’s focus — Utah is ranked No. 2 for private-sector job tives from rural parts of the state praised growth at minus-0.1 percent. Idaho leads the idea of satellite ports and expressed a in both categories. Utah’s 4.3 percent un- willingness to be part of the improved sys- see PORT page 14 employment rate ranks it sixth-best in the nation behind Nebraska (3.1 percent), Ver- mont (3.1 percent), South Dakota (3.5 per- cent), Iowa (3.6 percent) and New Hamp- Pluralsight sells for $3.5 billion shire (3.8 percent). Half of Utah’s 10 private-sector ma- Pluralsight Inc., a technology work- of Pluralsight common stock for $20.26 per jor industry groups posted net year-over- force development company headquartered share in an all-cash transaction valued at ap- year job gains, including trade, transporta- in Draper, has agreed to be acquired by Vis- proximately $3.5 billion. The purchase price tion and utilities (10,700 jobs); construction ta Equity Partners of Austin, Texas. Vista is represents a premium of approximately 25 (5,200 jobs); fi nancial activities (4,000 a leading global investment fi rm focused on percent to the company’s volume-weighted jobs); manufacturing (3,700 jobs); and enterprise software, data and technology- average closing stock price for the 30 trad- other services (2,200 jobs). Five industry enabled businesses with additional offi ces ing days prior to the announcement. groups remain with year-over employment in Chicago; New York; San Francisco; and Established in 2014, Pluralsight has declines, including leisure and hospitality Oakland, California. over 1,700 employees. The company pro- Under the terms of the agreement, Vis- services, professional and business servic- ta, in partnership with its institutional co-in- es, information, education and health ser- see PLURALSIGHT page 13 vestors, will acquire all outstanding shares vices and mining. AFCU-Business-Strip.pdf 1 5/7/19 5:02 PM C M Y CM 1-877-AFCUBIZ MY americafirst.com CY Federally insured by NCUA CMY K 2 • January 4-10, 2021 • The Enterprise - Utah's Business Journal COVID-19 AND UTAH - NEWS AFFECTING YOUR BUSINESS & YOUR EMPLOYEES Federal unemployment benefits This new method allows scientists to experiment with the likelihood of a false positive diagnosis. The multi- the virus without risking an outbreak. plexing capabilities of our CoPrimer platform go hand- extended into the 1st quarter 2021 The SARS-CoV-2 is commonly spread by exhal- in-glove with the technology’s applications in detecting Utahns currently receiving unemployment benefits ing sharply, (e.g., sneezing or coughing), which ejects small genetic variations in a given gene. As we have through federal programs funded by the CARES Act droplets of tiny aerosols from the lungs. These mucus demonstrated earlier on during this pandemic, our tech- may be eligible for extended weeks of benefits. Previ- droplets have a high surface-to-volume ratio and dry nology also facilitates rapid test development that we ously slated for a Dec. 26 end date, Congress has ex- out quickly, so both wet and dry virus particles come believe could help get testing solutions on the ground tended these federal unemployment programs through into contact with a surface or travel directly into a new quickly as impactful mutations are identified.” March 13, 2021. host. The researchers mimicked these conditions in their Co-Diagnostics also confirmed that the genetic mu- The state of Utah currently administers two federal experiments. Tested on glass surfaces, scientists elevat- tations in the new variant are not believed to interfere unemployment programs created under the CARES Act ed the temperature to about 93 degrees F for 30 min- with the performance of the company’s existing line of that have been extended as follows: utes, which degraded the outer structure. The effect was COVID-19 diagnostics, and that any new test developed • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Provides stronger on the dry particles than on the liquid-protected for this mutation would be a separate product, distinct up to 39 weeks of federal unemployment benefits to in- ones. In contrast, surfaces at about 71 degrees F caused from the company’s other tests. dividuals not otherwise eligible for state unemployment little to no damage, suggesting that particles in room and who are unable to work due to COVID-19, includ- temperature conditions or outside in cooler weather will ing the self-employed and gig workers. This program remain infectious longer. COVID-19 impact scholarships go to has been extended to eligible individuals for up to 50 “When it comes to fighting the spread of this vi- four university students in Utah weeks or until the program expires on March 13, 2021. rus, you kind of have to fight every particle individu- Four Utah university students have been awarded • Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Com- ally. And so you need to understand what makes each grants from the Wells Fargo Student Impact Scholar- pensation. Provides an additional 13 weeks of federal individual particle degrade,” Vershinin said. “People are ship program. The scholarship fund delivered $5,000 to emergency unemployment benefits for individuals who also working on vaccines and are trying to understand 200 recipients nationwide who have been impacted fi- remain unemployed after they have exhausted their state how the virus is recognized. All of these questions are nancially by COVID-19 and, in spite of their own chal- unemployment benefits. This program has been extend- single-particle questions. And if you understand that, lenges, made a positive impact in their community in ed to eligible individuals for up to 24 weeks or until the then that enables you to fight a hoard of them.” 2020, the banking company said. program expires on March 13, 2021. “The pandemic has had a devastating impact across A third federal unemployment program will also all facets of life and the economy, including universities be reinstated. The Federal Pandemic Unemployment AAA: At least 75 percent of Utahns and students,” said Tony Timmons, public affairs direc- Compensation program provides a weekly stimulus tor for Wells Fargo in Utah. “I am proud to announce unemployment benefit of $300 to eligible claimants for stayed home during recent holidays that there are four recipients of this scholarship in Utah.