© Copyright 2002 by the Wyoming Department of Employment, Research & Planning

Local Area Unemployment Statistics for First Quarter 2002

by:  Brad Payne, Economist

During the first quarter of 2002, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) employment increased statewide by 1,425 jobs or 0.6 percent when compared to the first quarter of 2001. Employment growth between the first quarters of 2001 and 2002 was one percentage point less than the growth between the first quarters of 2000 and 2001. Similarly, the labor force increased by 1,766 or 0.7 percent between first quarter 2001 and first quarter 2002, while unemployment increased by 342 individuals or 2.7 percent over the same time period. The unemployment rate during first quarter 2002 was 4.8 percent, while the unemployment rate during first quarter 2001 was slightly lower at 4.7 percent. 

Within Wyoming, the Northwest and Southwest regions experienced negative growth, while the remaining three regions posted positive over-the-year employment growth. Of the regions showing growth, the Northeast region recorded the highest rate of growth (3.5 percent) by adding 1,511 jobs. Due to the growth in the Mining industry, Campbell County's employment growth of 9.2 percent (1,896 jobs) offset employment losses in the majority of the other counties in the region.

The statewide increase in unemployment was driven by the Southwest region where the number of unemployed increased by 416 or 18.0 percent from first quarter 2001 to first quarter 2002. Teton County led the region and the State with increased unemployment of 170 individuals or 84.6 percent. The job losses mainly occurred in the Construction, eating & drinking places, and hotels & other lodging industries.

The most dramatic over-the-year increases in the unemployment rates were found in Washakie and Teton counties. Washakie County's change in the unemployment rate was 1.9 percentage points (from 4.6 percent in first quarter 2001 to 6.5 percent in first quarter 2002). Teton County's unemployment rate increased from 1.7 percent in first quarter 2001 to 3.1 percent in first quarter 2002 (a change of 1.4 percentage points). In both cases, a decrease in the number employed and an increase in the number unemployed contributed to the increase in the unemployment rates.

Niobrara, Weston, and Fremont counties posted significant decreases in quarterly unemployment rates. The unemployment rates between the first quarters of 2001 and 2002 fell from 5.4 percent to 3.8 percent in Niobrara County, 6.0 percent to 4.6 percent in Weston County, and 8.5 percent to 7.3 percent in Fremont County. While the decreases in the unemployment rates for Weston and Fremont counties were driven by increases in employment with corresponding decreases in unemployment, Niobrara County's unemployment rate decrease was driven by a shrinking labor force which could be caused by potential employees either leaving the county to find work or abandoning their job search.

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