Diversity in Utah

Did you know that 1 in 4 Utahns is a racial or ethnic minority? Utah is the 34th most racially and ethnically diverse state in the U.S., just below Pennsylvania and above several larger states like Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Utah’s minority share of the population is expected to increase to one in three Utahns by 2060. Salt Lake City also ranks as one of the top 10 gay-friendly cities in the U.S.

Diversity in the Workplace

A diversified workforce includes people with variety across several categories such as religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation, language, educational background, and abilities.

Utah’s diverse population offers immense benefits to the businesses operating across the state. One study by the Boston Consulting Group found that companies with a diverse workforce and increased innovation generated 19% more revenue than companies with lower diversity scores.

“There is no doubt we are stronger as a state when we embrace our differences and use our diversity as an asset.” —Utah Governor Spencer Cox

Building Belonging in the Workplace

Building belonging is just as important as building diverse teams. EDCUtah heard from Utah employers throughout the state – large and small, across industries and geographies – that fostering belonging for employees and their families is an increasingly important priority.

This toolkit, created jointly by EDCUtah and the Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging (The Center), is full of tested and proven practices for building cultures of belonging in the workplace.

Are you ready to build a culture of belonging in your organization? Download the toolkit designed specifically for Utah employers.

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Building Belonging Through Storytelling

We’ve all had moments when we felt like we didn’t belong. Sharing our stories and listening to the experiences of others can help combat isolation and foster warm personal connections.

Produced by Comcast, EDCUtah, and the Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging, this video was created as a resource for Utah employers who want to build cultures of belonging in the workplace. The video explores the power of storytelling in creating connection.

Utahns Who Found Belonging

The Telly Award-winning video "We Are Utah" features Utah executives from a variety of backgrounds as they share their Utah stories. This video - produced by Comcast, EDCUtah, and the Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging - is intended to serve as a resource for companies seeking to recruit and retain talent from diverse backgrounds.

Employer Case Studies

Utah employers are successfully hiring, retaining, and elevating world-class talent from many diverse backgrounds. Click on the logos below to read in-depth interviews with DEI experts. Current stories include:

Partner Organizations

Utah is home to many terrific advocacy groups who connect, support, and elevate diverse and underrepresented talent. EDCUtah works closely with these partner organizations and can make local introductions to additional advocacy groups upon client request. In addition to the partners below, Magnify Utah maintains a wide range of resources for diverse Utahns and their families.

To stay informed about news and events affecting Utah's multicultural communities, sign up for the weekly newsletter from the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs.

Diversity at EDCUtah

EDCUtah is committed to demonstrating diversity, equity, and inclusion in our own operations and to taking a leadership role in making Utah a welcoming place for talented people from all backgrounds. We are proud to have incubated the Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging (the Center), whose mission is to engage with communities of color and catalyze private and philanthropic partnerships to remedy racial disparities in economic opportunity, education, health, and housing in Utah.

"Economic development and diversity, equity and inclusion are connected at the hip. It's imperative that we enable every dynamic in a community. Nobody can be left out if we're going to reach an economy's full potential." — Tom Morgan, executive vice president of Zions Bank and EDCUtah board member