Wyoming Job Losses Continue in September
The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Employment has reported that employment in the state decreased by 12,900 jobs (or 4.2%) from September 2008 to September 2009. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 6.6% in August to 6.8% in September. It remained much lower than the U.S. unemployment rate of 9.8%.
Over the year, Wyoming employment decreased by 12,900 jobs, or 4.2%. As in previous months, the largest job losses occurred in natural resources & mining (-6,000 jobs, or -19.9%) and construction (-4,600 jobs, or -15.3%). Job losses were also seen in leisure & hospitality (-1,300 jobs, or -3.5%), retail trade (-900 jobs, or -2.8%), financial activities (-500 jobs, or -4.2%), transportation & utilities (-400 jobs, or -2.7%), professional & business services (-400 jobs, or -2.1%), and other services (-400 jobs, or -3.3%). Employment increased in government (including public schools, colleges, and hospitals; 1,100 jobs, or 1.6%), educational & health services (500 jobs, or 2.0%), and wholesale trade (100 jobs, or 1.1%).
From August to September, employment fell by 900 jobs, or 0.3%. This level of decrease is similar to historical seasonal patterns. Seasonal jobs gains in government (5,300 jobs, or 8.0%) were more than offset by job losses in natural resources & mining (-500 jobs, or -2.0%), construction (-900 jobs, or -3.4%), retail trade (-800 jobs, or -2.5%), transportation & utilities (-600 jobs, or -4.0%), financial activities (-200 jobs, or -1.7%), professional & business services (-200 jobs, or -1.1%), leisure & hospitality (-2,600 jobs, or -6.8%), and other services (-200 jobs, or -1.7%).
Most county unemployment rates increased slightly from August to September. Big Horn County posted the highest unemployment rate (8.2%) followed by Sweetwater and Fremont counties (both 7.4%). The lowest unemployment rate was found in Albany County (3.6%) followed by Sublette and Niobrara counties (both 4.5%). Unemployment rates were higher than September 2008 levels in all 23 counties.
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.