SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s work-from-home workforce declined since its pandemic-era peak, but remote work remains a defining feature of the state’s labor market for certain industries, occupations, and demographic groups. A new research brief from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute finds that after nearly tripling between 2019 and 2021, the number of Utahns working from home fell from 327,000 in 2021 to 278,000 in 2024.
“Utah’s work-from-home landscape is no longer defined by the broad pandemic shift to remote work,” said Heidi Prior, senior policy analyst at the Gardner Institute and lead author of the brief. “The data show certain Utahns continue working from home, including information workers, self-employed Utahns, higher earners, and college-educated workers, while working from home declined sharply for other groups after 2021.”
Key findings from the research brief include the following:
National rankings – In 2024, Utah ranked 9th nationally for its share of home-based workers. Four other western states ranked among the top 10 that same year: Colorado (2nd), Oregon (3rd), Washington (4th), and Arizona (5th).
Work-from-home rates by county – Among Utah’s most populated counties, Utah (17.7%), Davis (17.5%), Salt Lake (16.3%), Washington (15.7%), and Tooele (15.6%) counties reported the highest work-from-home rates.
Home-based workers by industry – Nearly 2 in 5 Utahns employed in the information industry worked from home in 2024, the highest rate of any industry. Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services followed at 33.3%, along with finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing at 32.3%.
Government workers – Less than 1 in 10 government workers in Utah worked from home in 2024, with the rate falling dramatically from 28.2% in 2021, to 9.8% in 2024.
Self-employed Utahns – In contrast to declines among private-sector and government workers, the share of self-employed Utahns working from home rose from 19.8% in 2021 to 29.0% in 2024.
Education and earnings impact – In 2024, 23.1% of Utah workers with bachelor’s degrees or higher worked from home, compared with 5.8% of workers without high school diplomas. Workers earning $75,000 or more also worked from home at higher rates than lower earners.
Women working from home – In 2024, 17.3% of employed Utah women worked from home, compared to 14.4% of employed Utah men.
The research brief uses U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data to examine how Utah’s home-based workforce has changed by geography, industry, occupation, demographics, education, and earnings. The full brief is now available online.
ABOUT THE KEM C. GARDNER POLICY INSTITUTE
The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute serves Utah by preparing economic, demographic, and public policy research that helps the state prosper. We are Utah’s demographic experts, leaders on the Utah economy, and specialists on public policy and survey research. We are an honest broker of INFORMED RESEARCH, which guides INFORMED DISCUSSIONS, and leads to INFORMED DECISIONS™. For more information, please visit gardner.utah.edu or call 801-587-3717.
ABOUT THE DAVID ECCLES SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Founded in 1917, the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah is dedicated to driving student success through academic rigor, immersive real-world learning, and strong career outcomes. Located in one of the nation’s most dynamic regions for business and entrepreneurship, the school is shaped by a distinctive Mountain West ethos of growth, grit, and ambition. At the Eccles School, students don’t just earn a degree or learn business — they live it. Through a rigorous, integrated curriculum led by renowned faculty and hands-on experiences that translate knowledge into practice, graduates develop strong business fundamentals, durable skills, mindset, and confidence to lead with integrity and create impact across industries and communities. The school’s centers and institutes serve as a bridge between academics and the business community, connecting students to real-world opportunities while advancing applied research and partnerships that contribute to business and society. Learn more at eccles.utah.edu.
