In Utah, Jobs are Scarce and Patience is Thin

Healthcare who?

The past month has given political pundits much to talk about. Republican Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts seems to have critically injured the Democrats' healthcare ambitions, galvanized President Obama's populous agenda and thrown 2010's congressional election into a whirlpool of speculation. The cable news pundits and editorial writers are tantalized by the relentless healthcare drama.

Utahns where I live couldn't care less.

This Ruthless Recession, like a slow, demonic vacuum, has sucked the talent, energy and hopes out of so many men and women in Utah and across America. Callous, constant and crushing, the Recession has created a new kind of cynical culture in Provo, a college town known for its youth and innovation.

Two examples:

I have a close friend who moved here from Arizona to take advantage of the exceptional educational opportunities Provo has to offer. He's an outstanding student at Brigham Young University, ranking in the top of his class, with a particular prowess for finance and accounting. He volunteers at his church. He's a newly-wed. He's everything this nation needs--bright, hard-working, driven, kind. And he couldn't find a good job if his life depended on it. Last I heard, he was struggling to make ends meet as a flower delivery boy. Every bank, accounting firm and grocery store in the Provo area turned him down for a job. Three years ago, such a talented student with so much potential could easily find a good internship or part-time gig that corresponded with his academic pursuits.

I have another friend living in Salt Lake City that completed law school and is currently searching for employment in her field. She's disillusioned by all the work, money and time she put into law school with nothing to show for it after a year of looking for a job. She doesn't know what to do. She's considering leaving Utah to find work elsewhere. There's no dignity for her here.

No, nobody I talk to anymore really cares about healthcare reform battles, Supreme Court decisions or climate change legislation. Eyes are glazed over to partisan politics and ears are numb to words like stimulus, job creation and recovery. The Recession has lasted too long, done too much damage. Defeatism is the new reality for so many young people, all members of an astute, modern-day Joad family. Their only message to Washington: It's the economy, stupid. Fix it. Now.

Tourism in Utah still suffers from economic downturn

The state of Utah is a stunning exhibition of vast mountain ranges, lush forests, deep canyons and the most spectacular rock formations found on our planet. Its five national parks, numerous resort towns and countless cultural attractions give it a unique place in American tourism. But is Utah’s renowned recreation and otherworldly beauty enough to keep tourism strong during the recession? Apparently not.

I was speaking about the economy with a nice man yesterday in the mountain town of Heber, just down the road from trendy Park City (and about 30 miles from Provo). He owns the Invited Inn, a bed and breakfast in the quiet Swiss village of Midway, Utah—a lovely alternative to Park City’s winter hustle and bustle, soon to swell for the ski season. But all is not well in his fairytale town. Tourism has been heavily hit by the economic downturn, and few people come to stay at his once-packed inn. He talked about how it’s now just him and his wife (both of whom are in their 60s or 70s from what I can guess) that manage the inn. They would love to hire some outside help to assist in the cooking and cleaning and landscaping, but they can’t afford any additional staff unless tourism picks up.

Other hotels and resorts in Midway are suffering too, he admits. Larger establishments are laying off everyone from cleaning staff to administration. So he’s grateful his little bed and breakfast has less upkeep and he and his wife are still able to get by for now. He thought the summer would bring more guests, but business was slow. He hopes the upcoming ski season will help his business.

And so the recession continues here. Like always, folks are optimistic things will eventually improve. And when tourists finally do return to Utah, our tremedous scenery will be waiting.

Boycotting the Great Recession, one by one

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said last month that the recession in the United States is likely over. He may be right on technical grounds, but it is painfully evident here in Provo that the local economy will not return to its pre-2008 glory for quite some time.

High-rise developments in downtown Provo are postponed. Plans for a new shopping center, once hailed as a vital addition to the local economy, are stagnant. And north of Provo in the small town of Lehi, proposals for a hotel complex designed by Frank Gehry (which would have included the tallest building in the state) have all but disappeared.

People around here are still optimistic about the future. There is no panic in the streets. But nobody really knows when recovery will come.

I personally know of at least five individuals that decided to boycott the recession and start their own business. It’s also what I did. After graduating from Brigham Young University at the end of 2007, bright-eyed and delighted with my fancy PR degree, the world quickly told me it wasn’t hiring. I searched for a job over the space of a year, traveling from Washington to Los Angeles and interviewing with dozens in between. There was nothing.

I finally decided to start my own business with a colleague of mine. Using skills and experience I already possessed, and turning my back on an ugly economic reality, I founded my own social media agency earlier this year.

Moral of the story: Folks here are tired of the recession. They want economic change, even if they have to fuel it themselves. They hear Mr. Bernanke say the recession is over, but their pockets and purses tell a different story.

For now, at least.