January News
by: David Bullard, Economist

"Annual average employment for 1999 was 232,500, a gain of 1.8 percent over 1998."

Nonagricultural employment grew rapidly in January, adding 5,800 jobs for a growth rate of 2.6 percent. The Figure incorporates recently benchmarked or revised employment series for 1998 and 1999.^* The revisions show that employment has been growing faster than previously estimated. In three of the past seven months (July 1999, November 1999 and January 2000) Wyoming’s employment growth rate has exceeded the nation’s. Annual average employment for 1999 was 232,500, a gain of 1.8 percent over 1998.

Despite faster than expected employment growth, Wyoming’s 1999 annual average unemployment rate was revised upward to 4.9 percent, slightly above the 1998 annual average of 4.8 percent (see Table). Civilian Labor Force (the total number of employed and unemployed individuals) increased 1.9 percent to 262,069 in 1999.

Many of the job gains from the December holiday season carried over into January. Employment in Retail Trade in January was up 1,200 jobs or 2.8 percent, and Amusements and Recreational Services added 600 jobs (17.6%). Construction employment continued to grow, with a gain of 1,100 jobs (7.9%). January estimates show no change in overall Mining employment, with small gains in Oil & Gas offset by job losses in Nonmetallic minerals.

* Watch the April issue of Wyoming Labor Force Trends for an article explaining the benchmarking process and this year’s revisions.

	1997(b)		1998(b)		1999(b)
	Number	Percent Change	Number	Percent Change	Number	Percent Change
Total Nonag Employment	224,500	1.5%	228,300	1.7%	232,500	1.8%
Civilian Labor Force	251,288	-1.9%	257,266	2.4%	262,069
Unemployment	12,768	-0.7%	12,328	-3.4%	12,746	3.4%
Unemployment Rate	5.1		4.8		4.9

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