Pub. 2 2019-2020 Issue 3

9 back together again later. Natalie just hopes that everyone had a rainy-day fund to fill in the gaps. Governor Herbert’s Utah Leads Together plan has four volumes. The fourth volume focuses on economic recovery and revital- ization with three horizons: 100 days, 250 days and 500 days. As far as commercial construction is con- cerned, the Utah Legislature is always inter- ested in building when economic needs are great and interest is low. They push to accelerate bonding to build important projects, and that includes building infra- structure. The definition of infrastructure is broad; it consists of a wide range of possi- ble projects such as broadband, outdoor recreation, transit, transportation and water. Some projects are ready for con- struction, and more will be ready soon. For example, the airport will be complet- ing a major milestone in September, and once that milestone is done, there may be a need for many more workers there. In Utah, 7% of its jobs are currently in con- struction. That percentage includes UAPA. The value of nonresidential construction in Utah for 2020 was estimated for the gov- ernor’s office in late December 2019 to be close to $2.06 billion, but that estimate was made at a time when people had only recently heard the termCOVID-19. No one anticipated the shutdown that would take place in March. Themost recent forecast took place in June 2020, and it confirmed that turning off the Utah economy caused a really bad second quarter. As a result, 2019was a peak year for economic growth, and in contrast, 2020will show a decline. However, you also have to look at other data. Between May 2019 and May 2020, the fastest industry growth was in construction.Where the entire state saw a 4.8% decline in employment, construc- tion (including road construction) had a 7.3% growth rate. The construction industry has some advan- tages when compared with other sectors. It is essential, many construction workers do their work outside, and its high wages have a multiplier effect on the economy. It is a lead indicator because construction can help support other industries. Having a skilled workforce is the most important way to build the Utah economy. As businesses consider Utah for new loca- tions or expansions, those businesses always consider the cost and quality of labor. A huge part of Utah’s prosperity has been based on the state’s ability to provide a well-trained labor force that is available for work. Amajor tenet of Utah’s approach is upscaling and rescaling Utah’s job force. Why? Since so many skills are attached to specific jobs, people who have been laid off often need to be retrained. Many jobs are in the skilled trades. Utah has money and programs to help people learn those trades, but Utah industries have a responsibility to recruit and train potential employees. Natalie sees an incredible need to unify as a country and as individual citizens. The policy turmoil inWashington D.C. has been incredibly hard on everyone. She thinks we have a responsibility as citizens to come together and solve problems. But how exactly do we do that? Natalie has been thinking a great deal about the pandemic and structural and behavioral change. Of the two, behavioral changes are harder to create than structural change. She sees the aging U.S. popula- tion as something that will cause structural change, and she sees behavioral change as an important way to get rid of the pan- demic. Since there is substantial evidence that masks and face coverings make it pos- sible to protect human health while allow- ing the economy to continue functioning, she sees masks as something that should not be considered political. Natalie has also been reading everything she can about social justice, racial inequal- ities, and racist and antiracist policies. For example, she read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson because Spencer Cox has been strongly recommending it to people. The evidence is plain that the U.S. needs to change. The country has racial economic disparities that are especially apparent in the criminal justice system. Natalie talked about a national initiative, announced June 23, 2020, to address inequality of opportu- nity in education, employment, entrepre- neurship and criminal justice reform. On a local and state level, it has become increas- ingly crucial for members within the con- struction industry to be involved in finding solutions. That means volunteering time, engaging in the effort to find answers, making sure decision-makers know your point of view, and being willing to listen. Why is listening important? Listening is a behavioral change. As such, it is difficult. But being defensive about past actions is not going tobeenoughgoing forward. Solutions will only become apparent if we are willing to be reflective, to examine our behavior, to listen, and then to commit to action. Theworkweneed todowill have tobedone at a time of great social unrest. Addressing inclusivitywill forceus to redefine leadership. Natalie noted that management is respon- sible for navigating complexity, but leader- ship is responsible for navigatingchange.We will also need to see around corners, rally a coalition, create a change vision, commu- nicate and execute that vision, and make the short-term wins that build confidence and create an environment for success. That kind of anticipation and projection can be tough, but doing it successfully has never been more important. 3 Natalie Gochnour Biography Natalie Gochnour is an Associate Dean at the David Eccles School of Business, the Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, and the Salt Lake Chamber’s Chief Economist. She has advised past governors and helped develop public policy, was one of George W. Bush’s political appointees, an associate administrator at the EPA, and a counselor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. At the Gardner Institute, Natalie leads a nonpartisan team of 30 research professionals. Their job is to inform decision-makers so they can make better decisions. Natalie also participates regularly in a radio program on KCPW called Both Sides of the Aisle along with Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, and Shireen Ghorbani, a member of the Salt Lake County Council.