Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Logo

Wyoming Department of Workforce Services

Research & Planning
444 W. Collins Dr.
Suite 3100
Casper, WY 82601
(307) 473-3807

Email link

"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.

The Federal Government reserves a paid-up, nonexclusive and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish or otherwise use, and to authorize others to use for federal purposes: i) the copyright in all products developed under the grant, including a subgrant or contract under the grant or subgrant; and ii) any rights of copyright to which the recipient, subrecipient or a contractor purchases ownership under an award (including but not limited to curricula, training models, technical assistance products, and any related materials). Such uses include, but are not limited to, the right to modify and distribute such products worldwide by any means, electronically or otherwise. Federal funds may not be used to pay any royalty or license fee for use of a copyrighted work, or the cost of acquiring by purchase a copyright in a work, where the Department has a license or rights of free use in such work, although they may be used to pay costs for obtaining a copy which is limited to the developer/seller costs of copying and shipping. If revenues are generated through selling products developed with grant funds, including intellectual property, these revenues are program income. Program income must be used in accordance with the provisions of this grant award and 2 CFR 200.307.

Wyoming Labor Force Trends

July 2024 | Volume 61, No. 7


Click Here for PDF

Return to Table of Contents

Wyoming Unemployment Rises Slightly to 2.9% in May 2024

by: David Bullard, Senior Economist

The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported that the state’s seasonally adjusted1 unemployment rate rose slightly from 2.8% in April to 2.9% in May. Wyoming's unemployment rate remained within the narrow range of 2.8% to 3.0% for 15 months. The U.S. unemployment rate of 4.0% in May was much higher than Wyoming’s rate.

From April to May, most unemployment rates increased slightly. This reflects a modest departure from the normal seasonal pattern for May. The largest increases were found in Carbon (up from 2.8% to 3.1%) and Sweetwater (up from 3.0% to 3.3%) counties, while unemployment fell in Washakie (down from 3.2% to 3.0%), Sublette (down from 3.6% to 3.4%), Park (down from 2.9% to 2.7%), Niobrara (down from 2.3% to 2.1%), and Lincoln (down from 3.0% to 2.8%) counties.

From May 2023 to May 2024, unemployment rates rose in 19 counties, remained unchanged in three counties, and fell slightly in Teton County (down from 2.7% to 2.6%). The largest increases occurred in Big Horn (up from 2.8% to 3.4%) and Sublette (up from 2.8% to 3.4%) counties.

The highest unemployment rates in May were found in Big Horn, Sublette, and Uinta counties (each at 3.4%). The lowest unemployment rate was reported in Niobrara County at 2.1%. It was followed by Weston and Crook counties (each at 2.3%).

Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates show that total nonfarm employment in Wyoming (not seasonally adjusted and measured by place of work) rose from 292,300 in May 2023 to 295,200 in May 2024, an increase of 2,900 jobs (1.0%).

R&P's most recent monthly news release is available at https://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/news.htm.


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.