Wyoming’s unemployment rate has steadily decreased from a peak of 5.6% in May 2016 to 3.9% in June 2017. The unemployment rate comes from the household survey and migration can affect unemployment rates. For example, if unemployed individuals move out of the state, the unemployment rate may decrease. This report, which focuses on changes in the number of jobs between fourth quarter 2015 and fourth quarter 2016, contains data from employers’ quarterly unemployment insurance tax filings. It provides local detail by county and industry and can help explain more precisely how economic conditions changed in Wyoming between 2015 and 2016.

From fourth quarter 2015 to fourth quarter 2016, total payroll decreased by $295.4 million (-8.7%), employment fell by 11,767 jobs (-4.2%), and average weekly wage fell by $44 (-4.7%). As in previous quarters, the largest job losses occurred in the mining sector (including oil & gas; -3,761 jobs, or –17.1%). Large job losses were also seen in construction (-2,723 jobs, or –11.8%), wholesale trade (-1,175 jobs, or –12.6%), transportation & warehousing (-763 jobs, or –7.4%), and retail trade (-748 jobs, or –2.4%).

Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/16Q4_QCEW/toc.htm for the types of industry employment and the amount of earnings by county.

Employment rose in four counties and fell in 19 counties (see Table). Total payroll increased in two counties and decreased in 21 counties.

From fourth quarter 2015 to fourth quarter 2016, Teton County added 635 jobs (3.5%) and its total payroll increased by $4.4 million (2.0%). The largest job gains occurred in accommodation & food services (more than 200 jobs); arts, entertainment & recreation (approximately 100 jobs); local government (including public schools; nearly 100 jobs); transportation & warehousing (more than 50 jobs); and construction (more than 50 jobs).

Lincoln County gained 66 jobs (1.1%), but its total payroll fell by $2.1 million (-3.0%). Modest job growth was seen in accommodation & food services, retail trade, manufacturing, and real estate & rental & leasing.

From fourth quarter 2015 to fourth quarter 2016, Natrona County lost 3,565 jobs (-8.6%) and its total payroll fell by $81.3 million (-15.2%). Large job losses were seen in mining (including oil & gas; nearly 950 jobs), construction (approximately 650 jobs), wholesale trade (more than 550 jobs), manufacturing (approximately 250 jobs), local government (including public schools & colleges; approximately 200 jobs), retail trade (approximately 200 jobs), and other services (nearly 200 jobs).

Campbell County lost 3,339 jobs (-12.2%) and its total payroll decreased by $78.0 million (-18.8%). Employment fell in mining (including oil & gas; approximately 1,500 jobs), construction (nearly 500 jobs), wholesale trade (more than 300 jobs), retail trade (approximately 250 jobs), accommodation & food services (approximately 200 jobs), manufacturing (approximately 150 jobs), transportation & warehousing (more than 100 jobs), and local government (including public schools & colleges; more than 100 jobs).

In Sweetwater County, employment fell by 1,186 jobs (-5.1%) and total payroll declined by $37.6 million (-10.5%). Sizeable job losses were seen in mining (including oil & gas; nearly 550 jobs), construction (more than 200 jobs), transportation & warehousing (approximately 150 jobs), real estate & rental & leasing (more than 100 jobs), and wholesale trade (approximately 100 jobs).

Converse County lost 780 jobs (-12.2%) and its total payroll fell by $17.2 million (-19.2%). Employment decreased in construction (more than 200 jobs), mining (including oil & gas; more than 200 jobs), accommodation & food services (more than 100 jobs), transportation & warehousing (nearly 100 jobs), and professional & technical services (nearly 100 jobs).

Fremont County’s employment decreased by 682 jobs (-4.2%) and its total payroll fell by $12.9 million (-7.6%). Large job losses occurred in local government (including public schools & colleges; approximately 300 jobs), mining (including oil & gas; nearly 150 jobs), real estate & rental & leasing (approximately 100 jobs), and wholesale trade (approximately 50 jobs).

According to preliminary data, employment fell by approximately 7,400 jobs (-2.8%) from first quarter 2016 to first quarter 2017, but total payroll increased slightly ($11.3 million, or 0.4%). Large job losses were seen in construction (more than 2,050 jobs), mining (including oil & gas; approximately 1,750 jobs), retail trade (more than 1,100 jobs), wholesale trade (nearly 900 jobs), and local government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals; approximately 650 jobs).

Industry employment and wages data for first quarter 2017 are available at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/QCEW_OTY/toc.htm

County level covered employment and wages data for first quarter 2017 are scheduled to be released on November 9, 2017.

Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Fourth Quarter by County, 2015 and 2016a

                    Average Monthly Employment                           Total Payroll                                    Average Weekly Wage
County             Fourth Quarter        Change                   Fourth Quarter                      Change           Fourth Quarter   Change
                   2015      2016        n       %                2015               2016               $        %     2015    2016      $       %
Total           279,408   267,641   -11,767    -4.2     $3,406,817,213     $3,111,373,498    -$295,443,715     -8.7    $938    $894    -$44    -4.7

Albany           15,934    15,662      -272    -1.7       $158,321,077       $153,402,182      -$4,918,895     -3.1    $764    $753    -$11    -1.4
Big Horn          4,302     4,187      -115    -2.7        $45,492,768        $43,177,512      -$2,315,256     -5.1    $813    $793    -$20    -2.5
Campbell         27,441    24,102    -3,339   -12.2       $414,956,034       $336,959,577     -$77,996,457    -18.8  $1,163  $1,075    -$88    -7.6
Carbon            7,257     7,018      -239    -3.3        $86,206,751        $80,378,219      -$5,828,532     -6.8    $914    $881    -$33    -3.6
Converse          6,406     5,626      -780   -12.2        $89,418,516        $72,265,410     -$17,153,106    -19.2  $1,074    $988    -$86    -8.0
Crook             2,326     2,327         1     0.0        $25,153,851        $24,333,683        -$820,168     -3.3    $832    $804    -$28    -3.4
Fremont          16,304    15,622      -682    -4.2       $170,529,580       $157,613,291     -$12,916,289     -7.6    $805    $776    -$29    -3.6
Goshen            4,585     4,392      -193    -4.2        $42,766,576        $40,436,076      -$2,330,500     -5.4    $717    $708     -$9    -1.3
Hot Springs       2,021     1,967       -54    -2.7        $18,988,581        $17,263,448      -$1,725,133     -9.1    $723    $675    -$48    -6.6
Johnson           3,089     3,095         6     0.2        $29,004,187        $29,098,062          $93,875      0.3    $722    $723      $1     0.1
Laramie          46,198    45,686      -512    -1.1       $532,693,321       $521,288,320     -$11,405,001     -2.1    $887    $878     -$9    -1.0
Lincoln           6,088     6,154        66     1.1        $71,284,284        $69,139,998      -$2,144,286     -3.0    $901    $864    -$37    -4.1
Natrona          41,269    37,704    -3,565    -8.6       $536,427,036       $455,129,345     -$81,297,691    -15.2  $1,000    $929    -$71    -7.1
Niobrara            913       903       -10    -1.1         $8,134,122         $7,614,249        -$519,873     -6.4    $685    $649    -$36    -5.3
Park             13,315    13,241       -74    -0.6       $140,634,401       $136,462,368      -$4,172,033     -3.0    $812    $793    -$19    -2.3
Platte            3,567     3,462      -105    -2.9        $39,596,253        $37,598,734      -$1,997,519     -5.0    $854    $835    -$19    -2.2
Sheridan         13,491    13,270      -221    -1.6       $142,867,401       $139,442,850      -$3,424,551     -2.4    $815    $808     -$7    -0.9
Sublette          4,292     3,888      -404    -9.4        $60,803,192        $52,337,276      -$8,465,916    -13.9  $1,090  $1,035    -$55    -5.0
Sweetwater       23,476    22,290    -1,186    -5.1       $358,281,930       $320,634,924     -$37,647,006    -10.5  $1,174  $1,107    -$67    -5.7
Teton            18,152    18,787       635     3.5       $220,807,551       $225,177,230       $4,369,679      2.0    $936    $922    -$14    -1.5
Uinta             8,574     8,298      -276    -3.2        $91,172,157        $82,983,617      -$8,188,540     -9.0    $818    $769    -$49    -6.0
Washakie          3,793     3,679      -114    -3.0        $39,037,026        $36,936,899      -$2,100,127     -5.4    $792    $772    -$20    -2.5
Weston            2,389     2,312       -77    -3.2        $24,955,128        $22,040,743      -$2,914,385    -11.7    $804    $733    -$71    -8.8
Nonclassified     4,224     3,969      -255    -6.0        $59,285,490        $49,659,485      -$9,626,005    -16.2  $1,080    $962   -$117   -10.8

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 2017.