"Labor Market Information (LMI) is an applied science; it is the systematic collection and analysis of data which describes and predicts the relationship between labor demand and supply." The States' Labor Market Information Review, ICESA, 1995, p. 7.
by: Laura Yetter, Senior Economist
The Research & Planning (R&P) section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services recently published long-term sub-state occupational projections, which are available at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/projections.htm. This article contains just a sample of the type of data available in these projections.
Sub-state occupational projections contain a wealth of data that can help jobseekers, employers, and training providers understand workforce trends and needs and help prepare for the future.
For the purposes of projections, Wyoming is divided into six sub-state regions: Casper metropolitan statistical area (MSA), Cheyenne MSA, central-southeast, northeast, northwest, and southwest. The counties that make up each sub-state region are illustrated in Figure 1.
Table 1 shows the number of projected job openings for each sub-state region. Change or growth refers to new jobs. Openings due to exits refers to jobs created when people leave the Wyoming labor force. Openings due to transfers occur when an individual changes careers. Finally, total openings refers to the sum of openings due to growth, exits, and transfers. The southwest region is projected to have the greatest number of total projected openings (76,195), followed by the Casper MSA (56,188) and northeast region (54,687).
Table 2 shows the top five occupations requiring at least some postsecondary education by total projected openings for three of Wyoming's sub-state regions: Casper MSA, Cheyenne MSA, and Southwest. Many of the same occupations appear in the top five for each region. Heavy & tractor-trailer truck drivers has the greatest total projected openings for the Casper MSA (1,294) the Cheyenne MSA (1,375), and the southwest region (1,631). The Casper MSA top five also includes nursing assistants (789) and registered nurses (706). The top five for the southwest region is unique in that it includes substitute teachers, short-term (646).
The following are some of the specific locations on our website that may have useful information for you as you consider your employment options: