Wyoming Unemployment Rate Falls to 6.0% in April 2011
The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services has reported that the state's seasonally adjusted1 unemployment rate fell from 6.2% in March to 6.0% in April. It remained significantly lower than its April 2010 level of 7.2% and the current U.S. rate of 9.0%. Wyoming's unemployment rate has been decreasing steadily since December 2009 when it was 7.7% and is now at its lowest level since April 2009. Seasonally adjusted employment rose by 1,008 individuals (or 0.4%) from March to April.
The lowest unemployment rates were found in Sublette (3.6%), Niobrara (4.3%), Albany (4.3%), and Campbell (4.5%) counties. Teton County posted the highest unemployment rate (12.8%) followed by Lincoln (9.5%) and Johnson (7.8%) counties.
From March to April, Teton County's unemployment rate rose from 7.1% to 12.8%. It is normal for Teton County's unemployment rate to increase in April as that month marks the end of the winter tourist season. All other counties saw their unemployment rates decrease. Big Horn County reported the largest decrease, falling from 8.6% in March to 6.9% in April. Notable decreases were also seen in Johnson (down from 9.2% to 7.8%), Washakie (down from 6.9% to 5.6%), and Park (down from 7.5% to 6.2%) counties.
From April 2010 to April 2011 the unemployment rate decreased in 22 counties and was unchanged in Hot Springs County. The largest over-the-year decrease in unemployment occurred in Sweetwater County where the jobless rate fell from 7.0% to 5.0%.
Total nonfarm employment increased to 279,500 in April, a gain of 2,600 jobs (0.9%) from its year-ago level.
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 in order to obtain a better understanding of changes in economic conditions from month to month.