Wyoming Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 6.2% in March 2011
The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services has reported that the state's seasonally adjusted1 unemployment rate was unchanged from February at 6.2%. It remained significantly lower than its March 2010 level of 7.3% and the current U.S. rate of 8.8%. Seasonally adjusted employment in Wyoming increased by 1,119 individuals (0.4%) from February to March.
The lowest unemployment rates were found in Sublette (3.9%), Albany (4.9%), and Campbell (5.0%) counties. Lincoln County posted the highest unemployment rate (10.2%) followed by Johnson (9.2%) and Big Horn (8.6%) counties.
From February to March, the unemployment rate decreased in 19 counties, increased in 1 county, and was unchanged in 3 counties. It is normal for most county unemployment rates to decrease in March as milder weather allows for construction employment to increase. Johnson County reported the largest decline in unemployment, falling from 9.8% in February to 9.2% in March. The unemployment rate decreased by four-tenths of a percentage point in Weston, Fremont, Park, Converse, Laramie, and Natrona counties. Goshen County's unemployment rate increased from 6.1% in February to 6.2% in March, possibly reflecting seasonal layoffs in manufacturing.
From March 2010 to March 2011 the unemployment rate fell in all 23 counties. The largest decreases in unemployment rates occurred in Sweetwater (down from 8.0% to 5.6%), Campbell (down from 7.2% to 5.0%), and Uinta (down from 8.3% to 6.3%) counties.
Total nonfarm employment rose to 277,300 in March, a gain of 2,900 jobs (1.1%) from its year-ago level.
1Seasonal adjustment is a statistical procedure to remove the impact of normal regularly recurring events (such as weather, major holidays, and the opening and closing of schools) from economic time series in order to obtain a better understanding of changes in economic conditions from month to month.