Utah added nearly 41,200 positions in the year that ended Nov. 30 for a job-growth rate of 3.6 percent, well above the national average of 1.5 percent, according to a report released Tuesday by the Utah Department of Workforce Services. In recent months, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Idaho have enjoyed the strongest job growth among all states.

Jobs in Utah are being added in a variety of industries, including construction, education, health services, financial services and hospitality, said Mark Knold, Utah Department of Workforce Services senior economist.

"The fact that employment in all industries are growing is such good news. I don't see Utah becoming too dependent on any one industry."

Knold also said jobs are being added in all income ranges, from those paying near minimum wage to high-paying skilled positions.

The powerful job growth drove down the state's unemployment rate in November to 4 percent, down from 4.5 percent in October and down from 5.1 percent in November 2004.

The strong job market, combined with the recent drop in retail gasoline prices, will drive consumer optimism - and spending - this holiday season, Knold said.

The average cost of a gallon of unleaded gasoline in Utah on Tuesday was $2 - the lowest average in the country according to travel services company AAA Utah. Prices in Utah are down from $2.37 a month ago and a record of $2.91 set Sept. 10.

Although interest rates are rising, the increases in recent months have been modest and so far have had little effect on Utah's thriving construction industry, Knold said. In fact, construction job growth in Utah in November was 12.8 percent - the highest rate in a decade.

Knold said he doesn't see higher interest rates hurting Utah's home-building industry, which is fueling construction-employment growth in the state.

One major reason, he said, is that Utah has had gradual home-price appreciation over the past five years instead of the huge run-up in housing prices that has occurred in other states. In some other states, affordability has become such a problem that higher interest rates already are dampening home sales.

But Knold doesn't believe that is going to happen to any great degree in Utah unless mortgage rates jump by several percentage points.

Neither does Derek Wright of Wright Homes, a Wasatch Front home builder. Like other residential builders, he is anticipating a good 2006, much like 2005.

"Job growth is compensating for the higher interest rates," he said.

lesley@sltrib.com