The Utah Board of Higher Education today reported on the Utah System of Higher Education’s Custom Fit program outcomes for the 2025 fiscal year, demonstrating strong statewide demand for employer-driven training and continued partnership between Utah businesses and USHE colleges.
For more than 40 years, Custom Fit has provided flexible, jointly funded training to Utah employers, helping companies upskill their workforce and adapt to industry needs. The program delivered more than 451,161 hours of customized training to 16,673 employees across 1,847 companies in the 2025 fiscal year, helping companies strengthen and retain their workforce.
“Custom Fit remains a key part of Utah’s approach to developing a skilled workforce,” said Aaron Skonnard, Utah Board of Higher Education member. “The Custom Fit program reflects the strong partnership between employers and our colleges, and these results demonstrate how meaningful, targeted training helps businesses stay competitive while supporting Utah’s long-term economic growth.”
Training continued to align with Utah’s highest-demand sectors, with strong activity in construction, advanced manufacturing and life sciences. The program also saw renewed engagement from businesses across the state, with more than half of participating companies accessing Custom Fit training for the first time in at least three years. Additionally, more than one-third of all training supported industry certification or licensure.
Utah employers contributed $6.1 million toward training costs, underscoring their continued investment in upskilling and employee retention. The state contributed an additional $6.3 million to support training statewide, helping companies of all sizes remain competitive in rapidly evolving industries.
Small businesses made up most of the Utah companies served and received substantial training support, with strong participation from hundreds of rural and women-owned businesses.