Wyoming's Labor Market in 2000
by: Krista R. Shinkle, Economist
data prepared by: David Bullard, Senior Economist and Brad Payne, Senior Statisticain
Total nonagricultural employment has steadily grown since 1996, and Wyoming’s employment growth rate has surpassed the growth rate of the nation. Total annual average nonagricultural employment for 2000 is estimated at 239,300 jobs (see Table 1), which is 6,200 more jobs than were estimated in 1999.1 The increase in employment is due to an increase in Goods Producing industries from 44,300 jobs in 1999 to 46,300 jobs in 2000 and an increase in Service Producing industries of 4,200 jobs (188,800 jobs in 1999 to 193,000 in 2000). Growth in Goods Producing industries is credited mainly to an increase in oil & gas extraction (up 1,400 jobs). Service Producing industries’ growth can be attributed to small increases across the board.
Wyoming’s employment growth rate has exceeded that of the nation for the first time since 1994 (see the Figure). After a slump in 1996, Wyoming’s employment growth rate has increased every year to reach 2.7 percent in 2000. The nation’s growth rate for 2000 tops out at only 2.1 percent.
Natrona County’s average annual employment for 2000 was 31,900 jobs (see Table 2). Total employment in Goods Producing industries grew by 300 jobs from 1999 to 2000, and Service Producing industries showed an increase of 100 jobs. The largest increase (200 jobs) from 1999 to 2000 occurred in health services.
Laramie County shows an increase in average annual employment from 1999 to 2000 of 1,100 jobs (see Table 3). The increase in employment is due almost exclusively to increases in Service Producing industries. An increase in Government employment accounted for 600 jobs and Retail Trade made up another 200 jobs.
Wyoming’s unemployment rate dropped significantly from 4.9 percent in 1999 to 3.9 percent in 2000 (see Table 4). The lowest unemployment rate in the state for 2000 was for Teton County (1.6%). Fremont County had the highest unemployment rate in 2000 (6.4%), but still showed a marked decrease from its 1999 rate (7.6%). Sweetwater County's large decrease in its unemployment rate from 6.3 percent in 1999 to 4.9 percent in 2000 was due to the large layoffs in 1999 in the Construction and oil & gas extraction industries.
Wyoming’s labor force increased 1.9 percent, while employment grew 2.9 percent from 1999 to 2000 (see Table 4). Increases in labor force were seen in all counties except Carbon, Lincoln, Niobrara, Sweetwater, and Washakie. The greatest labor force increases occurred in Teton and Campbell
Counties (5.6 and 4.5%, respectively). Labor force growth in Campbell County corresponds to the large job increase in the oil & gas extraction industry.
Overall, Wyoming showed strong growth in 2000 with increases in both employment and labor force. Further evidence of Wyoming’s prosperity was the continued upward trend in Wyoming’s growth rate, which enabled the state to best the U.S. growth rate in 2000.
1Estimates for 1999 can be found on our website at http://lmi.state.wy.us/ces/toc.htm and http://lmi.state.wy.us/laus/toc.htm.
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