Natural Resources & Mining Job Losses Continue in April
Negatively impacted by low energy prices, Wyoming’s natural resources & mining sector continued to shed jobs in April. From March to April employment in this sector decreased by 800 jobs, or 2.9%. Despite job losses in many sectors, Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from March at 4.5% and remained much lower than the U.S. unemployment rate of 8.9%.
From March to April, Wyoming employment decreased by 900 jobs (-0.3%). The normal seasonal pattern is for employment to increase by approximately 2,000 jobs. Job losses in natural resources & mining (-800 jobs, or -2.9%), retail trade (-200 jobs, or -0.6%), leisure & hospitality (-700 jobs, or -2.2%), and government (-200 jobs, or -0.3%) were partially offset by gains in construction (500 jobs, or 2.1%), professional & business services (400 jobs, or 2.3%), and other services (200 jobs, or 1.7%).
Over the year, Wyoming employment decreased by 2,200 jobs, or 0.8%. April marked the largest over-the-year job loss since 1987. Construction employment fell by 2,500 jobs (-9.3%), natural resources & mining fell by 900 jobs (-3.2%), professional & business services fell by 700 jobs (-3.8%), retail trade fell by 400 jobs (-1.3%), leisure & hospitality fell by 400 jobs (-1.3%), and manufacturing fell by 200 jobs (-2.0%). Job gains were seen in government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals; 2,000 jobs, or 2.9%), educational & health services (700 jobs, or 2.9%), wholesale trade (100 jobs, or 1.1%), and transportation & utilities (100 jobs, or 0.7%).
Most county unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and decreased from March to April. The lowest unemployment rates were found in Albany (2.6%), Sublette (3.2%), and Niobrara (3.5%) counties. Big Horn County posted the highest unemployment rate (7.9%), followed by Teton (7.8%), Lincoln (6.6%), and Johnson (6.3%) counties.