LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – Anyone bucking for a promotion in their job or a beneficial career change in Utah is in good company.
A recent nationwide study has revealed that Utahns are the third most-ambitious of all 50 state residents in terms of seeking workplace promotions and career advancement.
That study — by researchers at ScoutLogic, a bulk background check service – found that only workers in Georgia and Nevada were more motivated than Utahns toward career progression and advancement.
By contrast, the ScoutLogic study found that New Yorkers were the least motivated toward job promotion.
But using the study data strictly as a measure of ambition is too simplistic, according to David Garcia, the co-founder and CEO of ScoutLogic. What it actually reveals, he says, is notable regional differences in how Americans approach career advancement.
“Some areas maintain a more traditional path to success through corporate advancement,” Garcia explains, “while others may be embracing alternative routes like entrepreneurship or specialized skill development.
“What’s particularly interesting is how these patterns often challenge our assumptions about which states would be most focused on climbing the corporate ladder.”
The ScoutLogic researchers based their assessment on three key metrics. They were online search behavior for promotion-related topics; local employment rates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; and state costs of living data from the World Population Review.
They concluded that Utah’s third-place score of 66.95 points (out of a possible 100) was largely due to its healthy economy and job market, especially in the fast-growing tech arena known locally as “Silicon Slopes.”
The tech scene in Salt Lake City and surrounding communities is on the rise. Known as “Silicon Slopes,” that sector has transformed itself into a thriving network of regional tech hubs which attract large, innovative companies and startups.
Technology accounts for over $20 billion in economic output in Utah, or 10% of the state’s economy. Moreover, tech wages are 108% higher than other median wages in the state.
As of 2023, Utah’s tech industry employed more than 67,400 people and paid a total of $9.28 billion in wages.
“As more tech companies and new businesses open their doors in Utah,” Garcia predicts, “workers are finding more chances to climb the career ladder, which is likely why many are actively looking for promotions.”
In the ScoutLogic study, Georgia scored 74.53 and Nevada ranked 72.43 out of 100 possible points. Trailing Utah in third-place were the states of Vermont, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Montana, South Dakota, California and Hawaii.
New York came in at the bottom of the list of 50 states, with a study score of 47.54 out of a possible 100.
But Garcia suggests that score, indicating low interest in tradition promotions, might be because workers in the Big Apple are finding different ways to succeed.
“Many in New York might be starting their own businesses or working for themselves as freelancers,” he observes, “especially in big cities where there are lots of opportunities to work independently.”
Full details of the ScoutLogic study can be found at https://www.scoutlogicscreenings.com.