From third quarter 2005 to third quarter 2006, total Unemployment Insurance (UI) covered payroll grew by $325.2 million or 14.9%, much faster than its five-year average (8.4%). UI covered payroll represents approximately 92% of all wage and salary disbursements in the state and 45% of personal income (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2007). Wyoming’s average weekly wage increased by $64 or 10.0%, well above its five-year average (6.0%). Total employment rose by 11,622 jobs or 4.4%, double its five-year average (2.2%).

Total payroll increased in every area of the state except Platte County (see Table), and employment increased everywhere except Albany and Weston counties. This suggests that the current economic expansion is positively affecting most of the state.

Increases in the average weekly wage at the county level varied greatly. Platte County’s average wage fell by $7 or 1.2%, while wages increased rapidly in six counties (Campbell, Carbon, Johnson, Laramie, Sublette, and Sweetwater). With the exception of Laramie County, which was affected by a large bonus, it appears that wages increased the fastest in counties affected by the current energy boom.

Sweetwater County added 2,312 jobs (10.5%) in the third quarter. Mining (including oil & gas) gained about 800 jobs, Construction gained over 400 jobs, and Other Services gained about 350 jobs. Total payroll increased by $48 million or 20.9%.

Employment in Campbell County increased by 2,135 jobs (9.0%). Growth was strongest in Mining (including oil & gas—about 950 jobs), Construction (over 350 jobs), Wholesale Trade (about 200 jobs), and Accommodation & Food Services (about 200 jobs). Average weekly wage increased by $75 or 9.0% and total payroll increased by $48.1 million or 18.8%.

Natrona County’s total payroll increased by $42.2 million or 13.2%. The largest growth in total payroll occurred in Mining ($15.4 million or 27.4%), Local Government (including public schools; $3.9 million or 17.8%), and Wholesale Trade ($3.7 million or 13.8%). Employment rose by 1,783 jobs (4.8%). Mining (including oil & gas) added 600 jobs (16.4%), Construction added 192 jobs (7.3%), Other Services added 173 jobs (12.3%), and Local Government added 173 jobs (5.0%). Health Care & Social Assistance gained 117 jobs (2.6%) and its total payroll increased by $3.2 million (7.3%). Employment fell substantially in Administrative & Waste Services (-114 jobs or -7.0%), the sector which includes telemarketing firms. Job losses were also seen in Information, Private Educational Services, Federal Government, and State Government.

Total Payroll increased by $73.8 million (21.8%) in Laramie County mostly because of a large bonus in Accommodation & Food Services. Employment increased by 855 jobs (2.1%). Substantial job gains were seen in Construction (almost 400 jobs), Transportation & Warehousing (almost 200 jobs), Local Government (over 150 jobs), and Health Care & Social Assistance (over 100 jobs). Employment fell in Utilities (-9 jobs or -7.0%), Retail Trade (-131 jobs or -2.3%), Finance & Insurance (-15 jobs or -1.0%), Accommodation & Food Services (-112 jobs or -2.5%), and Federal Government (-100 jobs or -3.9%).

In third quarter Carbon County gained 835 jobs (12.4%). Construction employment increased by over 500 jobs, but growth also occurred in Local Government, Transportation & Warehousing, and Retail Trade. The growth in total payroll ($12.9 million or 26.4%) appears related to the rapid increase in high paying construction jobs.

Sheridan County saw employment increase by 798 jobs (6.5%) and total payroll increase by $14.3 million or 16.3%. The largest job gains occurred in Mining (including oil & gas), Construction, Retail Trade, and Professional & Technical Services.

Teton County’s total payroll increased by $12.4 million or 7.5% and employment grew by 738 jobs (3.7%). Substantial job gains were seen in Construction, Accommodation & Food Services, and Retail Trade.

Employment fell slightly in Weston and Albany counties, but total payroll and average weekly wage both increased. In Albany County, job losses in State Government, Retail Trade, Information, and Administrative & Waste Services were partially offset by gains in Construction, Manufacturing, and Professional & Technical Services. In Weston County employment fell in Federal Government, Mining, Accommodation & Food Services, and Administrative & Waste Services.

Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/06Q3_QCEW/toc.htm for a complete set of tables, and for a full article.

The Wyoming Covered Employment and Wages news release with 4th Quarter 2006 data is scheduled to be issued on August 31, 2007.

Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Third Quarter by County, 2005 and 2006

                    Average Monthly Employment                           Total Payroll                   Average Weekly Wage
County              Third Quarter       Change               Third Quarter                Change         Third Quarter Change
                     2005      2006     #      %         2005            2006            $        %    2005   2006    $     %
Total             262,078   273,700 11,622    4.4  $2,187,851,722  $2,513,016,132 $325,164,410  14.9   $642   $706   $64  10.0

Albany             15,163    14,872   -291   -1.9    $112,928,125    $114,629,389   $1,701,264   1.5   $573   $593   $20   3.5
Big Horn            4,572     4,792    220    4.8     $34,891,791     $39,387,989   $4,496,198  12.9   $587   $632   $45   7.7
Campbell           23,637    25,772  2,135    9.0    $255,484,569    $303,575,315  $48,090,746  18.8   $831   $906   $75   9.0
Carbon              6,749     7,583    835   12.4     $48,764,031     $61,624,698  $12,860,667  26.4   $556   $625   $69  12.5
Converse            4,779     4,816     37    0.8     $38,565,342     $39,394,394     $829,052   2.1   $621   $629    $8   1.4
Crook               2,274     2,334     60    2.6     $15,561,497     $17,067,831   $1,506,334   9.7   $526   $563   $36   6.9
Fremont            15,244    15,414    170    1.1    $107,175,239    $117,063,253   $9,888,014   9.2   $541   $584   $43   8.0
Goshen              3,881     4,134    253    6.5     $23,864,343     $26,307,812   $2,443,469  10.2   $473   $490   $17   3.5
Hot Springs         1,904     1,966     61    3.2     $11,536,494     $12,452,032     $915,538   7.9   $466   $487   $21   4.6
Johnson             3,393     3,473     80    2.3     $21,490,890     $25,075,041   $3,584,151  16.7   $487   $555   $68  14.0
Laramie            41,133    41,987    855    2.1    $339,223,217    $413,029,390  $73,806,173  21.8   $634   $757  $122  19.3
Lincoln             6,015     6,501    486    8.1     $46,568,547     $53,782,970   $7,214,423  15.5   $596   $636   $41   6.9
Natrona            36,815    38,598  1,783    4.8    $319,051,906    $361,203,713  $42,151,807  13.2   $667   $720   $53   8.0
Niobrara              764       795     31    4.0      $4,191,057      $4,982,213     $791,156  18.9   $422   $482   $60  14.3
Park               14,332    14,610    278    1.9     $97,871,055    $107,527,297   $9,656,242   9.9   $525   $566   $41   7.8
Platte              3,269     3,297     28    0.8     $23,703,499     $23,623,261     -$80,238  -0.3   $558   $551   -$7  -1.2
Sheridan           12,229    13,028    798    6.5     $87,884,787    $102,189,883  $14,305,096  16.3   $553   $603   $51   9.2
Sublette            4,012     4,556    544   13.6     $37,237,167     $46,499,823   $9,262,656  24.9   $714   $785   $71  10.0
Sweetwater         22,086    24,398  2,312   10.5    $229,626,355    $277,675,604  $48,049,249  20.9   $800   $875   $76   9.5
Teton              20,054    20,792    738    3.7    $166,693,402    $179,124,189  $12,430,787   7.5   $639   $663   $23   3.6
Uinta               9,295     9,482    187    2.0     $73,022,286     $77,531,453   $4,509,167   6.2   $604   $629   $25   4.1
Washakie            3,888     3,914     27    0.7     $28,439,610     $30,193,759   $1,754,149   6.2   $563   $593   $31   5.4
Weston              2,212     2,126    -86   -3.9     $14,056,477     $15,039,312     $982,835   7.0   $489   $544   $55  11.3
Nonclassified*      4,378     4,459     82    1.9     $50,020,036     $64,035,511  $14,015,475  28.0   $879 $1,105  $226  25.7

Preliminary

*The employer may be located statewide or in more than one county.

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, developed through a cooperative program between Research & Planning and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Extract Date: January 2007

Wyoming Department of Employment Research & Planning June 1, 2007 Contact: David Bullard, Senior Economist (307) 473-3810