Covered Employment and Wages for First Quarter 2001

Covered Employment and Wages for First Quarter 2001
Source: ES-202 Report Run Date: September 2001
Tables by: Nancy Brennan, Economist Text by: David Bullard, Senior Economist

“Employment increased by 1,040 jobs or 5.9 percent in Campbell County as the result of strong growth in Mining, Construction and Services.”

Unemployment Insurance (UI) covered employment¹ increased by 5,574 jobs or 2.5 percent during the first quarter of 2001 compared to first quarter 2000. First quarter's employment increase is significantly higher than the five-year average growth of 2.1 percent (see Table 1). Total payroll increased by 6.1 percent, just below the five-year average of 6.2 percent. Average weekly wage increased by $18 or 3.5 percent, slightly below its five-year average of 4.1 percent.

Statewide Employment by Industry

Table 2 shows that the industries which created the largest number of jobs in first quarter were Services (1,899 jobs or 3.9%), Mining (1,273 jobs or 7.7%), Local Government (1,243 jobs or 3.4%) and Retail Trade (1,153 jobs or 2.6%).

Health services and business services were the fastest growing sub-industries within Services. During the first quarter they each gained over 600 jobs. Other areas within Services which showed significant growth included private social services (300 jobs) and engineering & management services (400 jobs).

Oil & gas extraction was the only Mining sub-industry to show an employment increase, gaining approximately 1,800 jobs. Employment in metal mining, coal mining and nonmetallic mineral mining all decreased slightly when compared with first quarter 2000.

Part of the employment increase in Local Government is related to the reclassification of Indian Tribal Councils from private sector Services to Local Government.² Job gains in hospitals also helped increase Local Government employment during first quarter.

Within Retail Trade, practically all the job gains occurred in eating & drinking places, department stores and miscellaneous retail (the industry which includes catalog and mail-order houses). Employment in food stores fell by 300 jobs when compared to first quarter 2000.

Construction and Federal Government were the two industries which had significant declines in employment in first quarter 2001. Colder weather during first quarter may account for some of the decline in Construction employment. The Figure shows that the statewide mean temperature in January fell from 24.1 degrees in 2000 to 19.3 degrees in 2001. February’s mean temperature fell even further, from 29.3 degrees in 2000 to 18.7 degrees in 2001. Federal Government employment was 327 jobs lower in first quarter 2001 with the completion of the 2000 Census.

Employment by County

Table 3 shows a mixed employment situation across Wyoming counties. Ten counties lost employment when compared with first quarter 2000, while 13 counties gained jobs.

Employment increased by 1,040 jobs or 5.9 percent in Campbell County as a result of strong growth in Mining, Construction and Services. Within Mining, job losses in coal mining (approximately 100 jobs) were offset by large gains in oil & gas extraction (400 jobs).

Teton County grew by 778 jobs or 5.3 percent during first quarter. Growth was especially strong in Services, Construction and Local Government.

Laramie County added 574 jobs or 1.6 percent, as gains in Retail Trade, Local Government and Transportation, Communications, & Public Utilities (TCPU) were partially offset by losses in Construction and Federal Government.

Natrona County gained 449 jobs or 1.5 percent. Large employment increases were seen in Mining, Manufacturing, Retail Trade and Services. Employment fell in Federal Government and TCPU.

After many quarters of employment declines, Sweetwater County gained jobs in first quarter 2001. Employment increased by 137 jobs or 0.8 percent as gains in oil & gas and Construction were partially offset by losses in Manufacturing and Local Government.

Platte County had 310 fewer jobs in first quarter 2001 than in 2000, a decline of 9.3 percent. Most of these job losses were associated with the completion of a construction project.

Carbon County lost 198 jobs or 3.2 percent when compared with first quarter 2000. Job losses in Mining, Construction and Retail Trade were only partially offset by gains in State Government.

For more detailed tables on first quarter covered employment and wages, visit our Internet site at: http://lmi.state.wy.us/01Q1_202/toc.htm.

1 Approximately 85-90 percent of all workers in Wyoming are covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI). Some exceptions include the self-employed and many railroad and agricultural workers.

2 This reclassification was necessitated by a change in federal Unemployment Insurance law, which now treats Indian Tribal Councils similarly to state and local governments. Previously, Indian Tribal Councils were classified as privately owned membership organizations.

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