Employment in Salt Lake City

Local Economy

Since it is a city with a rich culture, beautiful scenery, and lots of attractions, Salt Lake City receives a lot of tourists and the service industry is large. When the Winter Olympic Games were held in the city in 2002, many new hotels and restaurants were built and with the international exposure the area received during the event, tourism rates soared and have remained high. As a result, hotels and restaurants are both big business in the area.

Trade and transportation are also major industries due to Salt Lake City’s central location within the western US. Two major interstates, I-15 and I-80, cut through the city and connect north to south and east to west, whilst SLC International Airport, just a few miles away from Downtown, provides flights to hundreds of destinations around the world. This makes the city, which is known as the “Crossroads of the West”, a hub for travel and trade and an ideal location for expats who work in these industries.

There are a growing number of high-tech firms in the area too, many of which have set up their offices in the suburbs. With technology an ever-growing industry in the modern world, the job market is expected to continue to grow and encourage even more highly skilled expatriates to work in Salt Lake City. Health services, financial services, call centers, the convention industry and banking are all also key to Salt Lake City’s strong economy.

Job Hunting in Salt Lake City

Local newspapers, such as the Salt Lake Tribune, are ideal for looking for jobs and starting your career in a new city. Not only can you find listings in the physical newspaper, but often the press have websites where jobs are also advertised. Alternatively, jobs in Salt Lake City can be easily be found on websites such as simplyhired.com or jobs.net.  This method gives greater flexibility in searching via skills and experience, making it easier for you to be matched with your perfect job.

If you have a specific company in mind you would love to work for, take a look on their website; many major employees in the area, such as Delta Airlines or Intermountain Health, post their jobs on their website since they are regularly advertising for new staff members. This allows you to keep track of all their latest vacancies until the perfect opportunity comes up.

Work Permits for Salt Lake City

Expats planning on working in Salt Lake City can do so if they have been awarded a Green Card in order to legally live in the United States. However, applications for the Green Card are based on employment, and the way in which you apply will depend on your skills, educational background, and career level. Some will require a job offer from a US based company in order to apply for a Green Card, whilst others with particularly outstanding credentials, for example top business executives, renowned scientists or graduates with high level degrees, may be awarded a Green Card without endorsement from a new employer.

In the USA, it is common for companies to employ foreigners with technical expertise by applying for a H1B visa. The visa allows the employee to remain in the country for up to six years, and is generally quicker to be approved than a US Green Card, which is why it is appealing to many employers. For expats who are planning to work in Salt Lake City but do not yet have a job offer, this option is not suitable, as it is the employer who must make the application and deem the person highly specialized in their field. However, there are various other temporary worker visa categories available, one of which might be the perfect fit for you.