diff --git a/jest.config.js b/jest.config.js
index d75c071a15..42c86fd0ca 100644
--- a/jest.config.js
+++ b/jest.config.js
@@ -1,32 +1,5 @@
+const { getJestProjects } = require('@nrwl/jest');
+
 module.exports = {
-  projects: [
-    '<rootDir>/packages/tao',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/workspace',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/web',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/cypress',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/jest',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/storybook',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/react',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/nx-plugin',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/node',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/next',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/nest',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/linter',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/express',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/eslint-plugin-nx',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/create-nx-workspace',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/create-nx-plugin',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/cli',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/angular',
-    '<rootDir>/packages/gatsby',
-    '<rootDir>/dep-graph/dep-graph',
-    '<rootDir>/nx-dev/nx-dev',
-    '<rootDir>/nx-dev/ui/common',
-    '<rootDir>/nx-dev/feature-doc-viewer',
-    '<rootDir>/nx-dev/data-access-documents',
-    '<rootDir>/nx-dev/data-access-menu',
-    '<rootDir>/nx-dev/feature-search',
-    '<rootDir>/nx-dev/feature-analytics',
-    '<rootDir>/typedoc-theme',
-  ],
+  projects: getJestProjects(),
 };
diff --git a/packages/jest/migrations.json b/packages/jest/migrations.json
index d643a70c9a..2891d9925f 100644
--- a/packages/jest/migrations.json
+++ b/packages/jest/migrations.json
@@ -83,6 +83,12 @@
       "cli": "nx",
       "description": "Support for Jest 27 via updating ts-jest + jest-preset-angular",
       "factory": "./src/migrations/update-12-4-0/update-jest-preset-angular"
+    },
+    "update-jest-config-to-use-util": {
+      "version": "12.6.0-beta.0",
+      "cli": "nx",
+      "description": "Uses `getJestProjects()` to populate projects array in root level `jest.config.js` file.",
+      "factory": "./src/migrations/update-12-6-0/update-base-jest-config"
     }
   },
   "packageJsonUpdates": {
diff --git a/packages/jest/src/generators/init/init.spec.ts b/packages/jest/src/generators/init/init.spec.ts
index 6774542a00..4d87ccef72 100644
--- a/packages/jest/src/generators/init/init.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/jest/src/generators/init/init.spec.ts
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ describe('jest', () => {
 
     expect(tree.exists('jest.config.js')).toBeTruthy();
     expect(tree.read('jest.config.js', 'utf-8')).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
-      "module.exports = {
-      projects: []
+      "const { getJestProjects } = require('@nrwl/jest');
+      
+      module.exports = {
+      projects: getJestProjects()
       };"
     `);
   });
diff --git a/packages/jest/src/generators/init/init.ts b/packages/jest/src/generators/init/init.ts
index 6199701f7e..179f16a979 100644
--- a/packages/jest/src/generators/init/init.ts
+++ b/packages/jest/src/generators/init/init.ts
@@ -39,8 +39,10 @@ function createJestConfig(host: Tree) {
     host.write(
       'jest.config.js',
       stripIndents`
+  const { getJestProjects } = require('@nrwl/jest');
+
   module.exports = {
-    projects: []
+    projects: getJestProjects()
   };`
     );
   }
diff --git a/packages/jest/src/generators/jest-project/jest-project.spec.ts b/packages/jest/src/generators/jest-project/jest-project.spec.ts
index 91afed0fb3..a1edf3f3fa 100644
--- a/packages/jest/src/generators/jest-project/jest-project.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/jest/src/generators/jest-project/jest-project.spec.ts
@@ -83,16 +83,6 @@ describe('jestProject', () => {
     expect(tree.read('libs/lib1/jest.config.js', 'utf-8')).toMatchSnapshot();
   });
 
-  it('should add a project reference in the root jest.config.js', async () => {
-    await jestProjectGenerator(tree, {
-      ...defaultOptions,
-      project: 'lib1',
-    } as JestProjectSchema);
-    const jestConfig = jestConfigObject(tree, 'jest.config.js');
-
-    expect(jestConfig.projects).toEqual(['<rootDir>/libs/lib1']);
-  });
-
   it('should add a reference to solution tsconfig.json', async () => {
     await jestProjectGenerator(tree, {
       ...defaultOptions,
diff --git a/packages/jest/src/generators/jest-project/lib/update-jestconfig.ts b/packages/jest/src/generators/jest-project/lib/update-jestconfig.ts
index bd0bf1c9ea..47b1dda5c9 100644
--- a/packages/jest/src/generators/jest-project/lib/update-jestconfig.ts
+++ b/packages/jest/src/generators/jest-project/lib/update-jestconfig.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,14 @@ import { JestProjectSchema } from '../schema';
 import { addPropertyToJestConfig } from '../../../utils/config/update-config';
 import { readProjectConfiguration, Tree } from '@nrwl/devkit';
 
+function isUsingUtilityFunction(host: Tree) {
+  return host.read('jest.config.js').toString().includes('getJestProjects()');
+}
+
 export function updateJestConfig(host: Tree, options: JestProjectSchema) {
+  if (isUsingUtilityFunction(host)) {
+    return;
+  }
   const project = readProjectConfiguration(host, options.project);
   addPropertyToJestConfig(
     host,
diff --git a/packages/jest/src/migrations/update-12-6-0/update-base-jest-config.spec.ts b/packages/jest/src/migrations/update-12-6-0/update-base-jest-config.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5e6885b2db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest/src/migrations/update-12-6-0/update-base-jest-config.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+const mockGetJestProjects = jest.fn(() => []);
+jest.mock('../../utils/config/get-jest-projects', () => ({
+  getJestProjects: mockGetJestProjects,
+}));
+const mockResolveConfig = jest.fn(() =>
+  Promise.resolve({ singleQuote: true, endOfLine: 'lf' })
+);
+
+import { Tree } from '@nrwl/devkit';
+import { createTreeWithEmptyWorkspace } from 'packages/devkit/src/tests/create-tree-with-empty-workspace';
+import update from './update-base-jest-config';
+
+describe('update 12.6.0', () => {
+  let tree: Tree;
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    tree = createTreeWithEmptyWorkspace();
+    tree.write(
+      'jest.config.js',
+      `module.exports = {
+            projects: ['<rootDir>/test-1']
+        }`
+    );
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    const prettier = await import('prettier');
+    prettier.resolveConfig = mockResolveConfig as any;
+  });
+
+  test('all jest projects covered', async () => {
+    mockGetJestProjects.mockImplementation(() => ['<rootDir>/test-1']);
+    await update(tree);
+    const result = tree.read('jest.config.js').toString();
+    expect(result).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
+      "const { getJestProjects } = require('@nrwl/jest');
+
+      module.exports = { projects: getJestProjects() };
+      "
+    `);
+  });
+
+  test('some jest projects uncovered', async () => {
+    mockGetJestProjects.mockImplementation(() => ['<rootDir>/test-2']);
+    await update(tree);
+    const result = tree.read('jest.config.js').toString();
+    expect(result).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
+      "const { getJestProjects } = require('@nrwl/jest');
+
+      module.exports = { projects: [...getJestProjects(), '<rootDir>/test-1'] };
+      "
+    `);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/jest/src/migrations/update-12-6-0/update-base-jest-config.ts b/packages/jest/src/migrations/update-12-6-0/update-base-jest-config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0732cf3182
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/jest/src/migrations/update-12-6-0/update-base-jest-config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import { formatFiles, Tree } from '@nrwl/devkit';
+import { jestConfigObject } from '../../utils/config/functions';
+import { getJestProjects } from '../../utils/config/get-jest-projects';
+import {
+  addImportStatementToJestConfig,
+  addPropertyToJestConfig,
+  removePropertyFromJestConfig,
+} from '../../utils/config/update-config';
+
+function determineUncoveredJestProjects(existingProjects: string[]) {
+  const coveredJestProjects = (getJestProjects() as string[]).reduce(
+    (acc, key) => {
+      acc[key] = true;
+      return acc;
+    },
+    {}
+  );
+  return existingProjects.filter((project) => !coveredJestProjects[project]);
+}
+
+function determineProjectsValue(uncoveredJestProjects: string[]): string {
+  if (!uncoveredJestProjects.length) {
+    return `getJestProjects()`;
+  }
+  return `[...getJestProjects(), ${uncoveredJestProjects.map(
+    (projectName) => `'${projectName}', `
+  )}]`;
+}
+
+function updateBaseJestConfig(
+  tree: Tree,
+  baseJestConfigPath = 'jest.config.js'
+) {
+  const currentConfig = jestConfigObject(tree, baseJestConfigPath);
+  const uncoveredJestProjects = determineUncoveredJestProjects(
+    currentConfig.projects as string[]
+  );
+  removePropertyFromJestConfig(tree, baseJestConfigPath, 'projects');
+  addPropertyToJestConfig(
+    tree,
+    baseJestConfigPath,
+    'projects',
+    determineProjectsValue(uncoveredJestProjects),
+    { valueAsString: true }
+  );
+  addImportStatementToJestConfig(
+    tree,
+    baseJestConfigPath,
+    `const { getJestProjects } = require('@nrwl/jest');`
+  );
+  return;
+}
+
+export default async function update(tree: Tree) {
+  updateBaseJestConfig(tree);
+  await formatFiles(tree);
+}
diff --git a/packages/jest/src/utils/config/update-config.ts b/packages/jest/src/utils/config/update-config.ts
index 5525eb617f..a016d57066 100644
--- a/packages/jest/src/utils/config/update-config.ts
+++ b/packages/jest/src/utils/config/update-config.ts
@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@ import {
  * @param path - path to the jest config file
  * @param propertyName - Property to update. Can be dot delimited to access deeply nested properties
  * @param value
+ * @param options - set `valueAsString` option to true if the `value` being passed represents a string of the code that should be associated with the `propertyName`
  */
 export function addPropertyToJestConfig(
   host: Tree,
   path: string,
   propertyName: string,
-  value: unknown
+  value: unknown,
+  options: { valueAsString: boolean } = { valueAsString: false }
 ) {
   if (!host.exists(path)) {
     throw new Error(`Cannot find '${path}' in your workspace.`);
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ export function addPropertyToJestConfig(
       host,
       configObject,
       properties,
-      JSON.stringify(value),
+      options.valueAsString ? value : JSON.stringify(value),
       path
     );
   } catch (e) {
@@ -83,3 +85,15 @@ export function removePropertyFromJestConfig(
     console.log(`Please manually update ${path}`);
   }
 }
+
+export function addImportStatementToJestConfig(
+  host: Tree,
+  path: string,
+  importStatement: string
+) {
+  const currentContents = host.read(path, 'utf-8');
+  const newContents = `${importStatement}
+  
+${currentContents}`;
+  host.write(path, newContents);
+}
diff --git a/packages/workspace/src/generators/library/library.spec.ts b/packages/workspace/src/generators/library/library.spec.ts
index 683689e040..71b145e339 100644
--- a/packages/workspace/src/generators/library/library.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/workspace/src/generators/library/library.spec.ts
@@ -143,22 +143,25 @@ describe('lib', () => {
         ...defaultOptions,
         name: 'myLib',
       });
+      const expectedRootJestConfig = `
+        "const { getJestProjects } = require('@nrwl/jest');
 
-      expect(tree.read('jest.config.js', 'utf-8')).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
-        "module.exports = {
-        projects: [\\"<rootDir>/libs/my-lib\\"]
+        module.exports = {
+        projects: getJestProjects()
         };"
-      `);
+      `;
+
+      expect(tree.read('jest.config.js', 'utf-8')).toMatchInlineSnapshot(
+        expectedRootJestConfig
+      );
       await libraryGenerator(tree, {
         ...defaultOptions,
         name: 'myLib2',
       });
 
-      expect(tree.read('jest.config.js', 'utf-8')).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
-        "module.exports = {
-        projects: [\\"<rootDir>/libs/my-lib\\",\\"<rootDir>/libs/my-lib2\\"]
-        };"
-      `);
+      expect(tree.read('jest.config.js', 'utf-8')).toMatchInlineSnapshot(
+        expectedRootJestConfig
+      );
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/workspace/src/generators/move/lib/update-jest-config.spec.ts b/packages/workspace/src/generators/move/lib/update-jest-config.spec.ts
index 3f02701517..35e1933ef2 100644
--- a/packages/workspace/src/generators/move/lib/update-jest-config.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/workspace/src/generators/move/lib/update-jest-config.spec.ts
@@ -66,8 +66,7 @@ describe('updateJestConfig', () => {
       `coverageDirectory: '../../coverage/libs/my-destination'`
     );
 
-    expect(rootJestConfigAfter).not.toContain('<rootDir>/libs/my-source');
-    expect(rootJestConfigAfter).toContain('<rootDir>/libs/my-destination');
+    expect(rootJestConfigAfter).toContain('getJestProjects()');
   });
 
   it('should update jest configs properly even if project is in many layers of subfolders', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/workspace/src/generators/remove/lib/update-jest-config.ts b/packages/workspace/src/generators/remove/lib/update-jest-config.ts
index 3f56f1c97c..d8178652d2 100644
--- a/packages/workspace/src/generators/remove/lib/update-jest-config.ts
+++ b/packages/workspace/src/generators/remove/lib/update-jest-config.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ import {
 } from 'typescript';
 import { join } from 'path';
 
+function isUsingUtilityFunction(host: Tree) {
+  return host.read('jest.config.js').toString().includes('getJestProjects()');
+}
+
 /**
  * Updates the root jest config projects array and removes the project.
  */
@@ -31,7 +35,8 @@ export function updateJestConfig(
 
   if (
     !tree.exists('jest.config.js') ||
-    !tree.exists(join(projectConfig.root, 'jest.config.js'))
+    !tree.exists(join(projectConfig.root, 'jest.config.js')) ||
+    isUsingUtilityFunction(tree)
   ) {
     return;
   }