Wyoming Unemployment Increases to 3.7% in July
Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 3.7% in July, its highest level since November 2005. It remained well below the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.6%. The state’s labor force (the sum of employed and unemployed individuals) grew by 7,038 or 2.4% from July 2006 to July 2007. Job growth continued at a robust pace (up 10,200 jobs or 3.6% from July 2006 to July 2007).
From June to July employment fell by 3,700 jobs or 1.2%. This level of decrease is consistent with normal seasonal patterns. Seasonal job gains in Construction (600 jobs or 2.2%) and Leisure & Hospitality (1,300 jobs or 3.4%) were more than offset by seasonal job losses in Government (-6,000 jobs or -8.8%). Government employment usually falls in July as public schools are closed for the summer.
From July 2006 to July 2007, Wyoming gained 10,200 jobs or 3.6%. The largest job gains were found in Construction (2,300 jobs or 9.2%), Leisure & Hospitality (1,300 jobs or 3.4%), and Government (including public schools, colleges, and hospitals; 1,200 jobs or 2.0%). Strong job growth also occurred in Natural Resources & Mining (including oil & gas; 800 jobs or 2.9%), Wholesale Trade (600 jobs or 7.2%), Retail Trade (1,000 jobs or 3.1%), Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities (900 jobs or 6.6%), and Professional & Business Services (1,000 jobs or 5.6%). Employment decreased slightly in the Information sector (-100 jobs or -2.4%).
Across Wyoming’s 23 counties, most unemployment rates remained low in July. Platte County posted the highest unemployment rate (4.9%), followed by Fremont (4.4%), Big Horn (4.1%), and Goshen (4.0%) counties. The lowest unemployment rates were found in Teton and Sublette counties (both 1.6%).
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by April Szuch.
