Is mining important to Utah s economy?
Currently, the mining sector employs only about 1% of Utah s work force; the Utah Office of Planning and Budget predicts employment will remain at 1% throughout the early part of the next century. In the past 10 years, earnings income from mining has dropped, statewide, from 5% to 2%. The main reason for this drop is the fluctuation nature of the global market for coal, oil, and uranium, and increased mechanization in the minerals industry. The backbone of Utah s mineral economy rests in northern Utah (copper production), central Utah 9coal production), and the Aneth field and Uintah Basin (oil and gas production), not in regions proposed for wilderness designation.
