March Analysis of Wyoming Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment
by: Gregg Detweiler, Senior Economist
What can be learned from feature tables such as "Wyoming Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment?" Each month, economists analyze this data (and data from the other monthly tables that appear in Wyoming Labor Force Trends) along with historic data. This close examination provides valuable insights into Wyoming's economy. The following is a summary of the March analysis of "Wyoming Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment."
Overview, Wyoming Total Nonagricultural Employment [+1,200 (+0.5%) over the month; +1,900 (+0.9%) over the year]
Wyoming’s total nonagricultural employment continued to produce annual growth by posting a 1,900 job growth from March 1998. The predominant industries showing annual growth are Services and Construction. Wyoming’s total nonagricultural employment produced typical seasonal employment gains throughout March, except for the Mining industry. Since third quarter 1998, Mining has lost an average of 400 jobs over the year.
Mining [-100 (-0.6%) over the month; -600 (-3.6%) over the year]
Throughout 1998, Wyoming’s Mining industry has shown significant annual employment gains as well as some declines. Mining seems to be surviving on special projects and federal legislation on the energy industry. Oil & gas extraction made the largest contribution to the overall growth in the Mining sector until the last five months. Coal, uranium, and nonmetallic metal mining have also declined during the same time period. This contrasts with last year when Wyoming’s Mining industry was averaging 600 new jobs(1).
Construction [+400 (+3.0%) over the month; +500 (+3.8%) over the year]
March’s Construction employment gains have been carried over from the third and fourth quarters of 1998. General building contractors and special trades account for the total annual growth. As the building sector grows, it is natural that the special trades would also grow because most general contractors hire subcontractors to do the specialty work. With the mild winter weather, some construction companies have gotten an earlier start on projects that were scheduled to begin in April and May 1999.
Manufacturing [-100 (-0.9%) over the month; +200 (+1.9%) over the year]
Employment levels have stabilized throughout the Manufacturing industry. Wyoming could possibly see a drop in manufacturing levels within the next few months due to the completion and loss of contracts in the durable goods industry. However, if the weather remains mild, the sugar beet campaign could start a month earlier compared to past years.
Transportation, Communications, & Public Utilities (TCPU) [+0 (+0.0%) over the month; +100 (+0.7%) over the year]
Wyoming’s Transportation employment has remained stable for the past three months; however, the industry continues to show annual gains. Like the coal industry, mergers and buyouts have accounted for the majority of the loss. Employment in Communications & Public Utilities has remained stable for the past two years. The major component that affects these industries is the increase or decrease in the state’s population. Recently released Census Bureau figures show net domestic migration at a level of -2,204 from July 1997 to July 1998.
Trade [+200 (+0.4%) over the month; +200 (+0.4%) over the year]
March’s over-the-month employment level within the Trade industries (Retail and Wholesale Trade) produced its normal seasonal gains. Natrona and Laramie Counties have contributed to the majority of the growth found in the Trade industry. The growth is occurring in department stores, food stores and apparel & accessories.
Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate (FIRE) [+0 (+0.0%) over the month; +100 (+1.2%) over the year]
Wyoming’s Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate industry has seen nothing but corporate mergers, buyouts and reorganizations for the last two to three years. The result of these tactics slowed the growth within the industry, however, in the past eleven months there has been an average gain of 100 jobs over the year. The majority of the growth can be found in Real Estate, particularly in northwestern Wyoming.
Services [+300 (+0.2%) over the month; +1,300 (+2.8%) over the year]
The Services sector had the largest annual gain throughout the last six months. The gain can be attributed to telemarketing companies located in Laramie, Cheyenne and Casper. Social services has added approximately 300 new jobs in the last three months.
Government [+500 (+0.8%) over the month; +100 (+0.2%) over the year]
Wyoming’s Government sector increased by 500 jobs from February 1999. Local education (statewide) accounted for the majority of the growth while federal and state government employment remained stable.
1 G. Lee Saathoff and Gregg Detweiler, "Afterword: Unemployment Insurance Claims in the Mining Industry," Wyoming Labor Force Trends, March 1999, p. 6.
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