Wyoming Unemployment Falls to 3.3% in September 2008
Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 3.9% in August to 3.3% in September. It remained slightly higher than its September 2007 level of 2.9%. The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged from August at 6.1%. Wyoming job growth continued at a healthy pace (up 8,700 jobs, or 2.9%, from a year earlier), partly because of job gains in natural resources & mining. U.S. employment was below its year-ago level (-0.4%).
From August to September Wyoming gained 300 jobs (0.1%). This level of increase is consistent with normal seasonal patterns. Seasonal job losses in construction (-1,100 jobs, or -3.7%), retail trade (-800 jobs, or -2.4%), professional & business services (-800 jobs, or -3.9%), and leisure & hospitality (-2,800 jobs, or -7.1%) were more than offset by seasonal job gains in government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals; 5,800 jobs, or 9.1%).
Over the year employment increased by 8,700 jobs (2.9%). Natural resources & mining, including oil & gas, added 2,100 jobs (7.6%). Other notable job gains were seen in construction (800 jobs, or 2.8%), retail trade (500 jobs, or 1.5%), educational & health services (900 jobs, or 3.9%), leisure & hospitality (900 jobs, or 2.5%), other services (500 jobs, or 4.3%), and government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals; 2,000 jobs, or 2.9%). Employment fell slightly in manufacturing (-100 jobs, or -1.0%) and held steady in the information sector.
Almost all county unemployment rates fell from August to September, but, like the statewide average, remained higher than year-ago levels. The lowest unemployment rates were found in Sublette (1.4%), Campbell (1.7%), Teton (2.0%), and Albany (2.0%) counties. Platte, Weston, and Laramie counties posted the highest unemployment rates in September (all 3.6%).
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by April Szuch.
