Wyoming Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.7% in April 2014
The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported that the state’s seasonally adjusted1 unemployment rate fell from 4.0% in March to 3.7% in April. Wyoming’s unemployment rate was significantly lower than its year-ago level of 4.7% and the current U.S. unemployment rate of 6.3%. Seasonally adjusted employment of Wyoming residents increased, rising by 1,657 individuals (0.6%) from March to April.
Most county unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and decreased slightly from March to April. The largest declines occurred in Washakie (down from 5.2% to 3.7%), Big Horn (down from 5.7% to 4.2%), and Lincoln (down from 6.4% to 5.1%) counties. Teton County’s unemployment rate rose from 4.2% in March to 7.0% in April. Unemployment typically increases in Teton County in April with the end of the ski season.
From April 2013 to April 2014, unemployment rates declined in every county, suggesting improvement in economic conditions around the state. The largest decreases were seen in Washakie (down from 5.2% to 3.7%), Teton (down from 8.5% to 7.0%), Sheridan (down from 5.5% to 4.0%), Lincoln (down from 6.6% to 5.1%), and Goshen (down from 5.0% to 3.5%) counties. Unemployment rates fell by a full percentage point or more in 16 of the state’s 23 counties.
Teton County posted the highest unemployment rate in April (7.0%). It was followed by Lincoln (5.1%), Johnson (4.6%), and Fremont (4.5%) counties. The lowest unemployment rates were found in Converse (2.4%), Campbell (2.6%), Sublette (2.8%), and Albany (2.8%) counties.
Total nonfarm employment (measured by place of work) rose from 283,900 in April 2013 to 286,300 in April 2014, a gain of 2,400 jobs (0.8%).
1Seasonal adjustment is 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.
