The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll decreased by $130.0 million (-3.7%) in fourth quarter 2015. Employment fell by 6,132 jobs (-2.1%) and average weekly wage decreased by $15 (-1.6%). The mining sector (including oil & gas) lost 5,662 jobs (-20.4%). In terms of dollars, UI covered payroll represents approximately 91.5% of all wage and salary disbursements and 43.8% of personal income in the state (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2014). Analysts have noted that “minerals related employment is one of the key predictors of sales and use tax revenue” in Wyoming (CREG, 2010).

Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/15Q4_QCEW/toc.htm for the types of industry employment and the amount of earnings by county.

Employment rose in eight counties and fell in 15 counties (see Table). Total payroll increased in 11 counties and decreased in 12 counties.

Teton County added 568 jobs (3.2%), but its total payroll fell by $4.7 million (-2.1%). Large job gains were seen in accommodation & food services, retail trade, construction, and administrative & waste services.

Employment in Albany County rose by 415 jobs (2.7%) and its total payroll increased by $10.5 million (7.1%). Job growth was seen in construction, state government, other services, and wholesale trade.

Lincoln County gained 206 jobs (3.5%) and its total payroll increased by $3.6 million (5.4%). Employment grew in construction, local government (including public schools and hospitals), and wholesale trade.

Sheridan County added 62 jobs (0.5%) and its total payroll rose by $2.9 million (2.0%). Job gains in administrative & waste services, accommodation & food services, and local government were partially offset by job losses in construction and manufacturing.

Natrona County lost 2,165 jobs (-5.0%) and its total payroll fell by $73.8 million (-12.1%). The largest job losses occurred in mining (including oil & gas), manufacturing, wholesale trade, other services, professional & technical services, and transportation & warehousing.

Employment in Campbell County fell by 1,366 jobs (-4.7%) and its total payroll decreased by $24.0 million (-5.5%). Sizeable job losses were seen in mining (including oil & gas), construction, wholesale trade, transportation & warehousing, and other services.

Sweetwater County lost 787 jobs (-3.2%) and its total payroll decreased by $5.4 million (-1.5%). Employment fell in mining (including oil & gas), transportation & warehousing, other services, and wholesale trade. Job gains were seen in construction.

Sublette County’s employment fell by 653 jobs (-13.2%) and its total payroll decreased by $18.0 million (-22.9%). Job losses were seen in mining (including oil & gas), construction, real estate & rental & leasing, and accommodation & food services.

According to preliminary data, employment declined in first quarter. Total payroll fell by $257.2 million (-8.0%) and employment decreased by approximately 9,800 jobs (-3.5%). Job losses occurred in mining (including oil & gas; approximately 6,100 jobs), construction (approximately 1,670 jobs), transportation & warehousing (approximately 1,070 jobs), professional & technical services (approximately 500 jobs), and real estate & rental & leasing (approximately 350 jobs).

Industry employment and wages data for First Quarter 2016 are available at http://doe.state.wy.us/lmi/QCEW_OTY/toc.htm

County level covered employment and wages data for First Quarter 2016 are scheduled to be released on November 8, 2016.

Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Fourth Quarter by County, 2014 and 2015a

             Average Monthly Employment                                Total Payroll                                       Average Weekly Wage
County            Fourth Quarter        Change                      Fourth Quarter                    Change           Fourth Quarter   Change
                   2014      2015        n       %            2014               2015               $            %     2014    2015      $       %
Total           285,540   279,408    -6,132    -2.1     $3,536,857,567     $3,406,817,213    -$130,040,354     -3.7    $953    $938    -$15    -1.6

Albany           15,519    15,934       415     2.7       $147,804,668       $158,321,077      $10,516,409      7.1    $733    $764     $31     4.2
Big Horn          4,391     4,302       -89    -2.0        $46,621,898        $45,492,768      -$1,129,130     -2.4    $817    $813     -$4    -0.5
Campbell         28,807    27,441    -1,366    -4.7       $438,918,788       $414,956,034     -$23,962,754     -5.5  $1,172  $1,163     -$9    -0.8
Carbon            7,290     7,257       -33    -0.5        $85,540,254        $86,206,751         $666,497      0.8    $903    $914     $11     1.2
Converse          6,674     6,406      -268    -4.0        $88,059,242        $89,418,516       $1,359,274      1.5  $1,015  $1,074     $59     5.8
Crook             2,325     2,326         1     0.0        $23,458,891        $25,153,851       $1,694,960      7.2    $776    $832     $56     7.2
Fremont          16,687    16,304      -383    -2.3       $181,119,572       $170,529,580     -$10,589,992     -5.8    $835    $805    -$30    -3.6
Goshen            4,580     4,585         5     0.1        $41,421,232        $42,766,576       $1,345,344      3.2    $696    $717     $21     3.0
Hot Springs       2,053     2,021       -32    -1.6        $20,921,061        $18,988,581      -$1,932,480     -9.2    $784    $723    -$61    -7.8
Johnson           3,404     3,089      -315    -9.3        $34,110,912        $29,004,187      -$5,106,725    -15.0    $771    $722    -$49    -6.4
Laramie          46,427    46,198      -229    -0.5       $517,908,255       $532,693,321      $14,785,066      2.9    $858    $887     $29     3.4
Lincoln           5,882     6,088       206     3.5        $67,656,735        $71,284,284       $3,627,549      5.4    $885    $901     $16     1.8
Natrona          43,434    41,269    -2,165    -5.0       $610,231,737       $536,427,036     -$73,804,701    -12.1  $1,081  $1,000    -$81    -7.5
Niobrara            943       913       -30    -3.2         $8,340,063         $8,134,122        -$205,941     -2.5    $680    $685      $5     0.7
Park             13,404    13,315       -89    -0.7       $140,607,394       $140,634,401          $27,007      0.0    $807    $812      $5     0.6
Platte            3,526     3,567        41     1.2        $36,929,016        $39,596,253       $2,667,237      7.2    $806    $854     $48     6.0
Sheridan         13,429    13,491        62     0.5       $140,004,035       $142,867,401       $2,863,366      2.0    $802    $815     $13     1.6
Sublette          4,945     4,292      -653   -13.2        $78,818,473        $60,803,192     -$18,015,281    -22.9  $1,226  $1,090   -$136   -11.1
Sweetwater       24,263    23,476      -787    -3.2       $363,644,497       $358,281,930      -$5,362,567     -1.5  $1,153  $1,174     $21     1.8
Teton            17,584    18,152       568     3.2       $225,490,376       $220,807,551      -$4,682,825     -2.1    $986    $936    -$50    -5.1
Uinta             8,996     8,574      -422    -4.7       $100,937,684        $91,172,157      -$9,765,527     -9.7    $863    $818    -$45    -5.2
Washakie          3,890     3,793       -97    -2.5        $40,706,125        $39,037,026      -$1,669,099     -4.1    $805    $792    -$13    -1.6
Weston            2,364     2,389        25     1.1        $22,626,331        $24,955,128       $2,328,797     10.3    $736    $804     $68     9.2
Nonclassified     4,724     4,224      -500   -10.6        $74,980,328        $59,285,490     -$15,694,838    -20.9  $1,221  $1,080   -$141   -11.6

a preliminary.
b The employer may be located statewide or in more than one county.
Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, developed through a cooperative program between Research & Planning and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Extract Date: July 2016.