June News
by: David Bullard, Economist

"The large increases in claims from the Mining industry appear to have dropped off."

Wyoming nonagricultural employment increased by 900 jobs in June. This represents a 0.4 percent annual growth rate. In contrast, U.S. employment grew at a much faster pace of 2.2 percent. Employment in Wyoming’s metropolitan areas of Casper and Cheyenne grew at 1.3 and 0.5 percent, respectively. Casper’s employment growth was concentrated in Construction, Transportation and Services. Growth was strong in these same industries in Cheyenne, but these jobs gains were offset by job losses in State Government and Retail Trade.

Construction continues to produce a large part of the new jobs in the state. The June employment report showed an increase of 600 jobs in this industry. Manufacturing added 300 jobs in over-the-year comparisons. Employment declines were seen in Mining (down 200 jobs or 1.2%), Trade (down 200 jobs or 0.4%) and Government (down 200 jobs or 0.3%).

In June, the Wyoming unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) held steady at 4.9 percent. This is the same rate as June 1998. Labor Force (or the sum of employed and unemployed individuals) increased by 3,083 or 1.2 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate, at 4.3 percent remained below Wyoming’s.

Unemployment Insurance (UI) continued claims were up 11.5 percent. The increase was seen in all industries except Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (FIRE) and Government. Continued claims were also up in fourteen of Wyoming’s 23 counties. The large increases in claims from the Mining industry appear to have dropped off. Mining claims in June were up 19.0 percent over the year, well below the 50-100 percent increases observed in earlier months.

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