© Copyright 2024 by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Research & Planning

Wyoming Unemployment Unchanged at 2.8% in February 2024

The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from January to February at 2.8%. Wyoming’s unemployment rate was lower than its year-ago level of 3.1% and much lower than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 3.9%.

From January to February, most county unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and remained stable or decreased slightly. The largest decreases occurred in Niobrara (down from 3.8% to 3.0%), Big Horn (down from 4.8% to 4.4%), Platte (down from 3.6% to 3.3%), and Crook (down from 3.4% to 3.1%) counties. Jobless rates increased modestly in Washakie (up from 3.9% to 4.5%) and Hot Springs (up from 3.2% to 3.5%) counties.

From February 2023 to February 2024, unemployment rates fell in 14 counties, rose in six counties, and remained unchanged in three counties. The largest decreases were seen in Niobrara (down from 4.5% to 3.0%), Fremont (down from 4.8% to 4.2%), and Carbon (down from 4.2% to 3.7%) counties. Unemployment rates rose slightly in Hot Springs (up from 3.0% to 3.5%), Converse (up from 2.7% to 3.0%), and Washakie (up from 4.2% to 4.5%) counties.

In February, Washakie County had the highest unemployment rate at 4.5%. It was followed by Big Horn County at 4.4%, and Fremont, Sublette, and Sweetwater counties, each at 4.2%. The lowest unemployment rates were found in Teton County at 2.1% and Weston County at 2.8%.

Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates show that total nonfarm employment in Wyoming (not seasonally adjusted and measured by place of work) rose from 282,400 in February 2023 to 285,900 in February 2024, an increase of 3,500 jobs (1.2%).

March unemployment data will be released on April 22, 2024.


Wyoming Seasonally Adjusted Statewide Labor Force Estimates
                                                                                                Change
                                                                                     Month                    Year
                                  February-24    January-24   February-23     absolute     percent    absolute     percent
Total Civilian Labor Force           293,404       293,897       295,388        -493       -0.2%      -1,984       -0.7%
Employed                             285,044       285,524       286,202        -480       -0.2%      -1,158       -0.4%
Unemployed                             8,360         8,373         9,186         -13       -0.2%        -826       -9.0%
Unemployment Rate                        2.8           2.8           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.



Note Regarding Tables 1-3 Below

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 February 2024
 
                  
   County                               Rate*
Teton County, WY                         2.1
Weston County, WY                        2.8
Albany County, WY                        3.0
Converse County, WY                      3.0
Niobrara County, WY                      3.0
Crook County, WY                         3.1
Goshen County, WY                        3.2
Platte County, WY                        3.3
Campbell County, WY                      3.4
Hot Springs County, WY                   3.5
Sheridan County, WY                      3.5
Wyoming                                  3.6
Carbon County, WY                        3.7
Laramie County, WY                       3.7
Lincoln County, WY                       3.7
Johnson County, WY                       3.8
Natrona County, WY                       3.8
Uinta County, WY                         3.9
Park County, WY                          4.1
Fremont County, WY                       4.2
Sublette County, WY                      4.2
Sweetwater County, WY                    4.2
Big Horn County, WY                      4.4
Washakie County, WY                      4.5

*preliminary


Table 2: Wyoming counties not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates over-the-month rate
changes ranked from lowest to highest for February 2024

                                  Month ago              Over-the-Month   
    County                           rate        Rate*     Rate Change    
Niobrara County, WY                  3.8          3.0         -0.8
Big Horn County, WY                  4.8          4.4         -0.4
Crook County, WY                     3.4          3.1         -0.3
Platte County, WY                    3.6          3.3         -0.3
Albany County, WY                    3.2          3.0         -0.2
Goshen County, WY                    3.4          3.2         -0.2
Uinta County, WY                     4.1          3.9         -0.2
Converse County, WY                  3.1          3.0         -0.1
Fremont County, WY                   4.3          4.2         -0.1
Johnson County, WY                   3.9          3.8         -0.1
Laramie County, WY                   3.8          3.7         -0.1
Lincoln County, WY                   3.8          3.7         -0.1
Natrona County, WY                   3.9          3.8         -0.1
Sublette County, WY                  4.3          4.2         -0.1
Teton County, WY                     2.2          2.1         -0.1
Wyoming                              3.7          3.6         -0.1
Campbell County, WY                  3.4          3.4          0.0
Sheridan County, WY                  3.5          3.5          0.0
Sweetwater County, WY                4.2          4.2          0.0
Carbon County, WY                    3.6          3.7          0.1
Park County, WY                      4.0          4.1          0.1
Weston County, WY                    2.7          2.8          0.1
Hot Springs County, WY               3.2          3.5          0.3
Washakie County, WY                  3.9          4.5          0.6

*preliminary




Table 3: Wyoming counties not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates over-the-year
changes ranked from lowest to highest for February 2024
 
                                  Year ago                Over-the-Year   
   County                           Rate         Rate*     Rate Change    
Niobrara County, WY                  4.5          3.0         -1.5
Fremont County, WY                   4.8          4.2         -0.6
Carbon County, WY                    4.2          3.7         -0.5
Natrona County, WY                   4.2          3.8         -0.4
Platte County, WY                    3.7          3.3         -0.4
Albany County, WY                    3.3          3.0         -0.3
Lincoln County, WY                   4.0          3.7         -0.3
Sheridan County, WY                  3.8          3.5         -0.3
Sublette County, WY                  4.5          4.2         -0.3
Teton County, WY                     2.4          2.1         -0.3
Sweetwater County, WY                4.4          4.2         -0.2
Wyoming                              3.8          3.6         -0.2
Crook County, WY                     3.2          3.1         -0.1
Laramie County, WY                   3.8          3.7         -0.1
Uinta County, WY                     4.0          3.9         -0.1
Big Horn County, WY                  4.4          4.4          0.0
Campbell County, WY                  3.4          3.4          0.0
Park County, WY                      4.1          4.1          0.0
Goshen County, WY                    3.1          3.2          0.1
Johnson County, WY                   3.7          3.8          0.1
Weston County, WY                    2.7          2.8          0.1
Converse County, WY                  2.7          3.0          0.3
Washakie County, WY                  4.2          4.5          0.3
Hot Springs County, WY               3.0          3.5          0.5

*preliminary


Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
Research & Planning

March 25, 2024

Contacts:
Michael Moore, Research Supervisor, 307-473-3814

Carola Cowan, BLS Programs Supervisor, 307-473-3804


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