December News
by: David Bullard, Economist
"The gap between Wyoming's job growth and U.S. job growth has narrowed considerably in the past few months."
Nonagricultural employment grew by 2,600 jobs or 1.1 percent in December. As seen in the Figure, the gap between Wyoming’s job growth and U.S. job growth has narrowed considerably in the past few months. Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.4 percent, slightly above the U.S. rate of 4.1 percent.
Industries with strong growth in December included Construction (+600
jobs or 3.9%), Finance, Insurance & Real Estate (+400 jobs or 4.9%) and
Manufacturing (+300 jobs or 2.7%). Driven by the holiday shopping season the Trade sector added 1,100 jobs for an increase of 2.1 percent. Hurt by jobs losses in Oil & Gas, employment in the Mining industry declined by 400 jobs or 2.4 percent.
Preliminary annual average figures for 1999 (see Table) show nonagricultural employment growth of 1.3 percent over 1998. This is similar to growth of 1.5 percent in both 1997 and 1998. Civilian labor force increased by 1.4 percent in 1999, a slower pace than 2.7 percent growth in 1998. The number of unemployed individuals fell by 3.1 percent in 1999, continuing the pattern set in 1998. These figures are subject to revision.
| Wyoming Preliminary Annual Averages (1997-1999) | ||||||
| 1997(b) | 1998(b) | 1999(p) | ||||
| Number | Percent Change | Number | Percent Change | Number | Percent Change | |
| Total Nonag Employment | 224,500 | 1.5% | 227,800 | 1.5% | 230,700 | 1.3% |
| Civilian Labor Force | 251,288 | -1.9% | 257,968 | 2.7% | 261,648 | 1.4% |
| Unemployment | 12,768 | -0.7% | 12,361 | -3.2% | 11,972 | -3.1% |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1 | 4.8 | 4.6 | |||
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