Workforce Development

Utah’s workforce landscape presents both challenges and opportunities for women. Although women make up about 44–45% of the state’s labor force, participation drops sharply after age 25 due to barriers such as childcare access, cultural expectations, and occupational segregation that keeps many women in low‑wage, low‑advancement roles. In addition, many Utah women spend periods out of the workforce for caregiving, making flexible on‑ramps such as professional part‑time roles and “returnships” especially valuable. Recent research shows that despite a severe worker shortage, nearly half of Utah women say they would work or work more if they had affordable childcare. Expanding pathways into good, high‑paying jobs is both an economic necessity and a high‑return investment in Utah women and families.

A Bolder Way Forward’s Workforce Developent Spoke is working alongside educational providers, community organizations, employers, government entities, and individuals with lived experience to help increase the confidence, competence, and connection of all Utah women so they can find successful employment that works for themselves and their families. Visit the resources below to learn how you can help more Utah women find sustainable and significant workforce opportunities. Individuals, organizations, and communities can also take specific actions to help. To get engaged, email the UWLP Community Connector (Amy Anderson).

Key Resources

Informational Video

Resource Kit

Research Snapshot

What Utahns Need to Know

Spoke Podcast

Bold Goals

Through collective impact and systems thinking, Utah can improve things by working towards the following goals:

Increase women's awareness about return-to-work programs and positions in Utah. [Metric Forthcoming]
Increase the number of companies in Utah offering formal return-to-work positions. [Metric Forthcoming]
Expand and provide resources for Utah women looking to enter the workforce. [Metric Forthcoming]
Increase the number of women participating in workforce development programs. [Metric Forthcoming]
Increase Utahns’ agreement (understanding and perceptions) in the following areas: [Metric Dashboard]
1. I am aware of and know how to access resources and support to attain a quality job. (Women's agreement)
2. I believe that I am currently employable, or I can become employable within the next 12-24 months.\. (Women's agreement)
3. My current circumstances permit me to maintain successful employment over the next 5 years.(Women's agreement)
4. I believe that in Utah I can find successful employment that works for me and my family. (Women's agreement)
5. Jobs in trade fields are good career choices for women to pursue. (Utahns' agreement)

Spoke Advisors

Marta Nielsen (Program Specialist, USU Remote Online Initiative)
Heather Nemelka (Founder & CEO, Elavare)
Teri Slaugh (Board of Directors, Salt Lake SHRM)

What You Can Do

Encourage and support women around you to engage with mentorship programs that strengthen their skills, networks, and career pathways.

Regularly share workforce development resources with women to expand their awareness of training, education, and career advancement opportunities.

Educate yourself on the purpose and value of returnship programs and share this knowledge with women around you.

Community Partners

Elavare supports Utah women returning to the workforce with career coaching, trainings, and confidence‑building resources. Offerings address re‑entry barriers and help women pursue meaningful work that elevates families and communities.

Return Utah is a statewide career‑reentry program that helps people with extended career breaks return to mid‑level government roles. It offers training, coaching, and development resources to refresh skills and support a successful workforce transition.

USU's Rural Online Initiative educates, coaches, and mentors rural Utahns who are currently unemployed, underemployed, or have dropped out of the workforce. They aim to help individuals obtain jobs, remote employment, or e-commerce opportunities.

People Helping People is a Utah nonprofit helping low-income women (primarily single moms) achieve financial self‑sufficiency through better employment opportunities. Their programming helps women secure sustainable jobs and build better futures.

Tech‑Moms is a Utah nonprofit that helps women transition into tech careers through coding and career‑development programs. They offer technical training, mentoring, and community to build confidence and open doors to flexible tech jobs

The Utah Department of Workforce Services offers job seekers access to thousands of open positions, career resources, training opportunities, and employment support services. It also helps employers connect with active job seekers.

The Utah Division of Human Resource Management manages state workforce hiring and employee support across 30+ agencies. It also provides statewide job opportunities and specialized hiring pathways, including programs like Return Utah.

Utah Women in Trades is dedicated to increasing the number of women entering and succeeding in skilled construction and building trades. It provides hands‑on training, mentorship, apprenticeship support, and networking opportunities.

Women of the World helps forcibly displaced women in Utah through employment and education support and English classes. These services reduce barriers tied to poverty and housing instability, empowering women to build stable, independent lives.

Based in Blanding, Utah, ashTEC is a consulting and training organization that empowers individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses through tailored education and support. It focuses on inclusivity, collaboration, and regional prosperity.

Proxima Careers is focused on expanding access to education and training to create a steady pipeline of work‑ready healthcare professionals. It supports individuals facing barriers by providing career navigation, training connections, and job placement.

The South Salt Lake Chamber’s Women in Business program empowers women in the workforce through mentoring, leadership opportunities, and networking events. It helps women grow professionally and strengthen their impact in the local ecosystem.