A Preview of Our New Projections Publication

A Preview of Our New Projections Publication

by: Susan J. Murray, Statistical Technician

Research & Planning’s (R&P) forthcoming biannual projections publication Employment Outlook: 2010 presents baseline statewide and regional employment and population projections. New to this publication are sub-state regional projections, and projections for Wyoming's two Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), Casper and Cheyenne (see Figure). The following employment data are a summary of the sub-state labor market information contained in the publication.

Analysis of Casper MSA and Cheyenne MSA Growth

During most of the 1990s, employment in the Casper MSA was nearly stagnant (0.8% annual growth), but it grew steadily during the latter part of the decade (2.1% annual growth from 1997 to 2000). Annual employment growth in the Cheyenne MSA was rapid in the early 1990s (2.2% from 1990 to 1995), relatively inactive from approximately 1996 to 1997 (0.5%), and then resumed its previous growth rate of 2.2 percent from 1998 to 2000. The Cheyenne MSA is projected to have the highest annual growth rate (1.8%) of any region through the 2000 to 2010 forecast period because of its sizable population base and proximity to larger metropolitan areas in Colorado (see Table). From 1990 to 2000 the Cheyenne MSA employment mirrored the annual growth rate of the state as a whole (1.9%). However, the statewide average annual growth is projected to slow slightly to 1.5 percent, closely echoed by the Casper MSA (1.6% projected annual growth).

While overall industry growth rates in the Casper and Cheyenne MSAs are similar, the Cheyenne MSA growth rates in Manufacturing and Transportation, Communications, & Public Utilties (TCPU) outpace the Casper MSA's. The MSAs are two of three regions projected to exceed the statewide Manufacturing annual average employment growth. Growth prospects for both of the MSAs are better than the statewide average in two of the fastest growing divisions, Retail Trade and Services. Casper MSA employment is expected to increase by 5,436 jobs to 36,753 in 2010. Of those new jobs, 3,587 or 65.9 percent are expected to be in the Services industry. Employment in the Cheyenne MSA is projected to increase by 6,977 jobs to 43,074, with 3,634 jobs added in Services (52.1% of the increase) and 1,526 in Retail Trade (21.8% of the increase).

Conclusion

The complete publication, planned for release in May, will include further analysis of employment and industry growth statewide and by region. It will also contain historical and projected data on Wyoming's resident population, and an examination of the fluid nature of Wyoming's labor supply.

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These pages designed by Julie Barnish.
Last modified on by Susan J. Murray.