Fall 2025, Vol. 8 Iss. 18

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What truly prepares new hires for success?

We want to hear from you! Utah State University Extension is leading a new study, led by Dr. Lendel Narine and Dr. Paul Hill, to gather input from Utah employers about the skills, experiences, and credentials that best prepare college graduates and new hires for long-term success in today's workplace.

Your perspective and experiences matter to us. This survey takes just 6 to 8 minutes, is completely anonymous, and will help shape degree programs, internships, micro-credentials, and employer-university partnerships to better meet workforce needs.

Take the survey

For questions, please contact lendel.narine@usu.edu or paul.hill@usu.edu.

Sharpen your skills this October

At USU Extension's Remote Online Initiative, we believe professional growth comes from continuous learning. We're offering two engaging workshops to help sharpen your job-ready skills and build career confidence. These sessions are practical, evidence-based, and designed to help you stand out in the job market.

Professional Development Workshop

Wednesday, October 1
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. MDT
Online via Zoom

Building Resilience in Remote Work and Career Transitions will help attendees explore what resilience means in today's workplace. Worklifecircle founder Allyson Dhindsa will guide participants through tools and strategies for navigating personal and professional development challenges with confidence.

Resume Critique & Insights Workshop

Tuesday, October 7
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. MDT
Online via Zoom

Watch a live resume critique and gain insights from ROI Program Specialists and the Utah Department of Workforce Services. They work directly with job seekers and employers and will share practical ways to tailor your resume, quantify accomplishments, and format effectively to stand out in the job market.

Keep investing in your future with workshops that build the skills employers need and strengthen Utah's workforce. Follow us to learn about other events coming soon →

Encouraging news: Utah's job market remains resilient

Utah's economy continues to show steady growth and low unemployment. According to the Utah Department of Workforce Services, the state has added more than 40,000 jobs over the past

year, with unemployment at just 3.3%, well below the national average of 4.3%.

Utah continues to outperform the nation in both unemployment and job growth. According to Utah Business Magazine, growth is expected to continue through the rest of 2025, particularly in education, health services, construction, and hospitality.

Learn more in the full Utah Employment Report or listen to the audio from Workforce Services →

At USU Extension's Rural Online Initiative, we continue to contribute to this momentum. Since 2024, more than 500 students have enrolled in our Certified Remote Work Professional^© course, and so far 126 job placements have been recorded with a 32% increase in total salaries. Together, we're helping residents gain the skills to fill these growing jobs the Utah way.

ROI grad finds new direction through education

Join us in celebrating Jennifer Colonna of Duchesne County, who has been accepted into the M.A. in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences program at Utah State University for Fall 2025.

Jennifer shared, "Your course helped me discover a passion for remote work and instructional design, and I'm so excited to take this next step. Thank you for believing in me and supporting my goals."

Coming from marketing, Jennifer is now pursuing a long-term goal to work in education, focusing on designing classes and courses that reflect how people learn in a changing world. While our program usually highlights job placements, Jennifer’s story is a reminder of how educational milestones are an important steps in building our careers and preparing for higher wage jobs.

Explore which ROI program could support your next step.

Enroll in our Certified Remote Work Professional^© course today →

Have a success story or testimonial to share?

We’d love to hear how ROI has made a difference in your journey.

Share your story with us.

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