Utah’s Future
Potential impacts and opportunities from
projected population growth
What is Utah Foundation?
Public Policy Research
Think Tank
Nonprofit
Nonpartisan
Independent
Since 1945
Supported by business,
foundations, higher ed,
cities, counties,
schools, individuals
Thriving
Economy
WellPrepared
Workforce
High
Quality of
Life
College-Age Population Projections
Projected Enrollment

UVU projected to
see most growth in
next decade
From “Reaching Toward 2050: Education in the Midst of Population Growth,” Utah Foundation, May 2015
Race and Ethnicity in Higher Ed
Current Utah Trends in Higher Ed
From “Steps Forward in Higher Ed: Success Measures, Game Changers, and Performance-Based Funding in Utah,”
Utah Foundation, December 2014
Changes in Tuition

Increasing portion
paid by tuition vs
state funds
From “Reaching Toward 2050: Education in the Midst of Population Growth,”
Utah Foundation, May 2015
2050 Series

Reports cover population
growth from four different
angles
Demographics
 Transportation and utility
infrastructure
 Water
 Education

Where Growth is Projected
Biggest Growth projected in
Utah County
Projected increase
of over 700,000
From “A Snapshot of 2050: An Analysis of Projected Population Change in Utah,” Utah Foundation, April 2014
Challenges in Wasatch Front
Projected Growth
Auto-Dependent Exurbs
Location-Efficient
9%
25%
32%
59%
Average American
19%
43%
49%
32%
32%
Wasatch Front
is similar to this
Disposable Income
Housing
From “Roadmap to 2050: Planning for Utah’s Future Infrastructure Needs,” Utah Foundation, June 2014
Transportation
Future Infrastructure
Future Infrastructure - Transit

Phase 1 (2011-2020)

Phase 2 (2021-2030)

Phase 3 (2031-2040)
Water

Two schools of thought

Population projections
assume we will have
water
From “Flowing Toward 2050: Utah’s Water Outlook,” Utah Foundation, September 2014
Air Quality
UVU is not currently
“major source”
 In the future:

No more than 100 tons of
any pollutant
 No emission reduction
credits are available

Millennials and Boomers

Less likely than US peers to be seeking
new jobs

More religious and Republican than US
peers

Similar to US peers regarding:


% of independent voters

support of gay rights,
Survey does not include post-Millennials
(under 18 years old)
Thank You
www.utahfoundation.org

Stephen J. Hershey Kroes, President
steve@utahfoundation.org

Mallory Bateman, Research Analyst
mallory@utahfoundation.org
Top Growth – Occupational Groups