SALT LAKE CITY -- Gov. Jon Huntsman was sworn into office Monday for a second -- and what he says will be a final -- term, using the occasion to give the state a pep talk as it faces rising unemployment and a $1 billion budget shortfall in the global economic crisis.

"Amidst uncertainty, our people are truly resilient and so is our economy. We will prevail. We always have," Huntsman said during a brief inauguration ceremony held on the Capitol steps in front of a few hundred spectators in subfreezing temperatures.

"Today, I have no doubt that other Utahns will rise to the challenge and keep our state moving forward."

Huntsman, a Republican, won re-election with a record 77 percent of the vote in November and is one of the nation's most popular governors.

Huntsman did little campaigning to win a second term and said he wanted to spend the next four years working to increase teacher pay, making health care more attainable and strengthening the economy by luring more businesses and tourists to the state.

While Huntsman's first term was marked by record economic expansion, increases in education funding and tax cuts, his second term already is different.

In the past year, Utah has lost 11,500 jobs, according to a state report released last month. State economists are forecasting that number will rise to 19,000 jobs this year and for the state unemployment rate to go as high as 5.5 percent.

Shelved for now is Huntsman's plan to bring Utah's teacher salaries up to the national average and any attempt at eliminating the state's portion of the sales tax on food.

Huntsman is already proposing budget cuts of up to 7 percent for every state agency while his fellow Republicans in the Legislature want cuts of up to 15 percent.

Huntsman and state lawmakers are both working toward a balanced budget. But Huntsman's proposal calls for bonding for roads and he is counting on a federal stimulus package to make some ends meet, neither of which state lawmakers are keen on.

During his inauguration speech, Huntsman made references to the need to protect essential human health services and education from deep budget cuts, pointing to students in the audience as the key to future success.

"We would never want it said in our generation that we gave into defeat, fear or myopia and failed the emerging generation represented by these students here today. We will forge ahead," Huntsman said. "It is up to us and us alone."

In addition to Huntsman, Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, State Auditor Auston Johnson and State Treasurer Richard Ellis were also sworn in Monday.

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On the Net:

Gov. Jon Huntsman http://www.utah.gov/governor/index.html