The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from April to May at 3.3%. Wyoming’s unemployment rate was slightly higher than its May 2024 level of 3.1%, but much lower than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 4.2%.
From April to May, most county unemployment rates rose slightly. It is somewhat unusual for county unemployment rates to increase in May. The largest increases occurred in Niobrara (up from 3.0% to 3.6%), Converse (up from 2.7% to 3.1%), Goshen (up from 2.8% to 3.2%), Johnson (up from 2.2% to 2.6%), and Weston (up from 2.7% to 3.1%) counties. Park County’s unemployment rate fell from 3.2% to 3.1%, and unemployment rates remained unchanged in Washakie (3.3%), Fremont (3.6%), Carbon (3.5%), and Big Horn (3.9%) counties.
From May 2024 to May 2025, nearly all county unemployment rates increased. The largest increases were reported in Niobrara (up from 2.7% to 3.6%), Platte (up from 3.1% to 3.8%), Hot Springs (up from 2.6% to 3.2%), and Washakie (up from 2.7% to 3.3%) counties. Johnson County’s unemployment rate fell from 2.7% to 2.6%.
In May, the lowest unemployment rates were found in Johnson, Crook, and Albany counties, each at 2.6%. The highest unemployment rates were reported in Big Horn County at 3.9%, Platte County at 3.8%, Fremont County at 3.6%, and Niobrara County at 3.6%.
Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates show that total nonfarm employment in Wyoming (not seasonally adjusted and measured by place of work) rose from 295,600 in May 2024 to 297,900 in May 2025, an increase of 2,300 jobs (0.8%).
June unemployment data will be published on July 22, 2025.
Wyoming Seasonally Adjusted Statewide Labor Force Estimates
Change
Month Year
May-25 April-25 May-24 absolute percent absolute percent
Total Civilian Labor Force 293,023 294,224 296,358 -1,201 -0.4% -3,335 -1.1%
Employed 283,458 284,502 287,250 -1,044 -0.4% -3,792 -1.3%
Unemployed 9,565 9,722 9,108 -157 -1.6% 457 5.0%
Unemployment Rate 3.3 3.3 3.1
| Definitions: | |
| Employed | All persons who, during the reference week, did any work at all as paid employees, worked in their own business, profession, or on their own farm, or worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in a family business. |
| Unemployed | All persons who had no employment during the reference week, were available for work, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. |
| Labor Force | All persons who meet the criteria given above as either employed or unemployed. |
| Unemployment Rate | The number of unemployed as a percent of the labor force. |
| Seasonal Adjustment | 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 to better understand changes in economic conditions from month to month. |
Not seasonally adjusted data reflect the actual economic conditions in a given area for a given time period. These data show the normal seasonal changes that occur in the economy. Most county unemployment rates are higher in the winter months because of seasonal job losses in construction, leisure & hospitality, and many other sectors. Similarly, most county unemployment rates are lower in the summer months as employment increases across the economy. Data users should use caution when comparing not seasonally adjusted data for different months, as at least part of the difference between months may reflect normal seasonal patterns.
In contrast, seasonally adjusted data have been subjected to a statistical procedure to remove the effects of normal changes that occur in the economy each year, such as seasonal hiring in the construction sector, the opening and closing of schools, and holiday hiring by retail trade establishments. There is no expectation that seasonally adjusted unemployment rates will be higher or lower in any particular month, except as the economy expands or contracts. The value of seasonally adjusted data is that it is easy to identify longer-term trends in the data and valid comparisons can be made between any two months in the series.
Research & Planning works in cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics to develop and publish unemployment rates for each county in Wyoming. However, these data are not seasonally adjusted and therefore reflect seasonal changes each month.
Table 1: Wyoming counties not seasonally adjusted unemployment
rates ranked from lowest to highest for May 2025
County Rate*
Albany County, WY 2.6
Crook County, WY 2.6
Johnson County, WY 2.6
Lincoln County, WY 2.8
Campbell County, WY 3.0
Sublette County, WY 3.0
Teton County, WY 3.0
Converse County, WY 3.1
Park County, WY 3.1
Weston County, WY 3.1
Goshen County, WY 3.2
Hot Springs County, WY 3.2
Laramie County, WY 3.2
Natrona County, WY 3.2
Sheridan County, WY 3.2
Wyoming 3.2
Washakie County, WY 3.3
Carbon County, WY 3.5
Sweetwater County, WY 3.5
Uinta County, WY 3.5
Fremont County, WY 3.6
Niobrara County, WY 3.6
Platte County, WY 3.8
Big Horn County, WY 3.9
*preliminary
Table 2: Wyoming counties not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates over-the-month rate
changes ranked from lowest to highest for May 2025
Month ago Over-the-Month
County rate Rate* Rate Change
Park County, WY 3.2 3.1 -0.1
Big Horn County, WY 3.9 3.9 0.0
Carbon County, WY 3.5 3.5 0.0
Fremont County, WY 3.6 3.6 0.0
Washakie County, WY 3.3 3.3 0.0
Campbell County, WY 2.9 3.0 0.1
Hot Springs County, WY 3.1 3.2 0.1
Sublette County, WY 2.9 3.0 0.1
Sweetwater County, WY 3.4 3.5 0.1
Teton County, WY 2.9 3.0 0.1
Crook County, WY 2.4 2.6 0.2
Lincoln County, WY 2.6 2.8 0.2
Natrona County, WY 3.0 3.2 0.2
Platte County, WY 3.6 3.8 0.2
Wyoming 3.0 3.2 0.2
Albany County, WY 2.3 2.6 0.3
Laramie County, WY 2.9 3.2 0.3
Sheridan County, WY 2.9 3.2 0.3
Uinta County, WY 3.2 3.5 0.3
Converse County, WY 2.7 3.1 0.4
Goshen County, WY 2.8 3.2 0.4
Johnson County, WY 2.2 2.6 0.4
Weston County, WY 2.7 3.1 0.4
Niobrara County, WY 3.0 3.6 0.6
*preliminary
Table 3: Wyoming counties not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates over-the-year
changes ranked from lowest to highest for May 2025
Year ago Over-the-Year
County Rate Rate* Rate Change
Johnson County, WY 2.7 2.6 -0.1
Albany County, WY 2.5 2.6 0.1
Laramie County, WY 3.1 3.2 0.1
Campbell County, WY 2.8 3.0 0.2
Carbon County, WY 3.3 3.5 0.2
Converse County, WY 2.9 3.1 0.2
Lincoln County, WY 2.6 2.8 0.2
Park County, WY 2.9 3.1 0.2
Natrona County, WY 2.9 3.2 0.3
Sublette County, WY 2.7 3.0 0.3
Teton County, WY 2.7 3.0 0.3
Wyoming 2.9 3.2 0.3
Crook County, WY 2.2 2.6 0.4
Fremont County, WY 3.2 3.6 0.4
Sheridan County, WY 2.8 3.2 0.4
Sweetwater County, WY 3.1 3.5 0.4
Weston County, WY 2.7 3.1 0.4
Big Horn County, WY 3.4 3.9 0.5
Goshen County, WY 2.7 3.2 0.5
Uinta County, WY 3.0 3.5 0.5
Hot Springs County, WY 2.6 3.2 0.6
Washakie County, WY 2.7 3.3 0.6
Platte County, WY 3.1 3.8 0.7
Niobrara County, WY 2.7 3.6 0.9
*preliminary
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Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Research & Planning June 25, 2025 Contacts: David Bullard, Senior Economist, 307-473-3810 Carola Cowan, BLS Programs Supervisor, 307-473-3804 |