Research & Planning
February 8, 2008
Contact: David Bullard, Senior Economist
(307) 473-3810
While jobs and payroll continued to grow faster than their five-year averages, they have moderated from the rapid growth seen during 2006. From second quarter 2006 to second quarter 2007, total Unemployment Insurance (UI) covered payroll grew by $290.2 million or 12.1%, somewhat faster than its five-year average of 9.3%. UI covered payroll represents approximately 92% of all wage and salary disbursements and 45% of personal income in the state (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2007). Average weekly wage rose by $55 or 8.1%, also faster than its five year average (6.2%). Some of the increases in average weekly wage may reflect increases in hours worked and overtime pay. Also, increases in average weekly wage could result from wages being bid up as employers compete for a limited supply of labor. Employment increased by 10,049 jobs or 3.7%.
Total payroll increased by $29.0 million or 9.6% and employment increased by 1,510 jobs or 5.9% in Campbell County. The largest job gains occurred in construction (over 600 jobs) and retail trade (about 250 jobs). Strong growth also was seen in local government (including public schools and hospitals), wholesale trade, and other services.
Sublette County’s total payroll rose by $23.5 million or 60.0% and employment grew by 982 jobs or 23.1%. By far the largest job gains were in mining (including oil & gas, about 700 jobs). Notable job gains were also seen in retail trade, transportation & warehousing, and administrative & waste services. Part of the increase in payroll and wages was related to the reclassification of a large firm from Big Horn County.
Sweetwater County’s total payroll increased by $27.4 million or 9.9% and employment grew by 876 jobs or 3.6%. Large job gains were seen in transportation & warehousing, mining, administrative & waste services, accommodation & food services, and local government. Employment fell in construction.
Employment increased by 811 jobs or 12.8% in Lincoln County and total payroll increased by $16.5 million or 31.4%. The construction sector added over 600 jobs and about $12 million in payroll. Other job gains occurred in local government (including public schools and hospitals), retail trade, transportation & warehousing, and health care & social assistance.
Employment rose by 734 jobs or 1.9% in Natrona County. Accommodation & food services added 315 jobs (9.8%) and retail traded added 226 jobs (4.6%). Local government (including public schools & colleges) posted the largest growth in total payroll ($7.9 million or 18.0%). Health care & social assistance had the second largest growth in total payroll ($4.9 million or 11.5%). Notable job losses were seen in mining and administrative & waste services. The apparent job losses in mining are the result of the reclassification of a large firm out of Natrona County into the nonclassified region.
Laramie County’s total payroll increased by $31.2 million or 8.9% and employment rose by 900 jobs or 2.1%. Local government (including public schools, colleges, and hospitals) added 377 jobs (6.0%) and increased its total payroll by $8.0 million (13.8%). Other large job gains occurred in transportation & warehousing and health care & social assistance. Job losses were noted in construction, federal government, finance & insurance, and management of companies & enterprises. Some workers in these jobs may have relocated, or begun commuting, to other counties. Job losses in construction may be related to conditions in the housing market.
Big Horn County’s employment fell by 341 jobs (7.2%) and payroll fell by $5.0 million (-13.1%), but this was mostly related to a noneconomic code change. A large firm was reclassified to Sublette County because that is where a majority of its employees are working.
For more details on second quarter employment and wages go to http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/0108/a1.htm
Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/07Q2_QCEW/toc.htm for a complete set of tables.
The Wyoming Covered Employment and Wages news release with 3rd Quarter 2007 data is scheduled for May 9, 2008.
Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Second Quarter by County, 2006 and 2007 a
Average Monthly Employment Total Payroll Average Weekly Wage
County Second Quarter Change Second Quarter Change Second Quarter Change
2006 2007 # % 2006 2007 $ % 2006 2007 $ %
Total 268,726 278,775 10,049 3.7 $2,389,394,775 $2,679,611,848 $290,217,073 12.1 $684 $739 $55 8.1
Albany 15,421 15,532 111 0.7 $117,112,381 $126,334,898 $9,222,517 7.9 $584 $626 $41 7.1
Big Horn 4,724 4,383 -341 -7.2 $38,270,954 $33,249,863 -$5,021,091 -13.1 $623 $584 -$40 -6.4
Campbell 25,746 27,256 1,510 5.9 $302,551,076 $331,582,024 $29,030,948 9.6 $904 $936 $32 3.5
Carbon 6,947 7,614 668 9.6 $54,543,219 $68,876,383 $14,333,164 26.3 $604 $696 $92 15.2
Converse 4,862 4,928 66 1.4 $43,625,518 $46,851,779 $3,226,261 7.4 $690 $731 $41 5.9
Crook 2,358 2,401 42 1.8 $17,592,568 $19,272,566 $1,679,998 9.5 $574 $618 $44 7.6
Fremont 15,682 16,263 581 3.7 $119,534,768 $141,107,254 $21,572,486 18.0 $586 $667 $81 13.8
Goshen 4,172 4,253 81 1.9 $26,652,588 $28,739,412 $2,086,824 7.8 $491 $520 $28 5.8
Hot Springs 1,996 2,070 74 3.7 $12,274,754 $13,798,025 $1,523,271 12.4 $473 $513 $40 8.4
Johnson 3,419 3,437 17 0.5 $26,550,065 $26,477,098 -$72,967 -0.3 $597 $593 -$5 -0.8
Laramie 41,940 42,839 900 2.1 $350,070,625 $381,236,896 $31,166,271 8.9 $642 $685 $42 6.6
Lincoln 6,334 7,145 811 12.8 $52,355,290 $68,815,102 $16,459,812 31.4 $636 $741 $105 16.5
Natrona 38,599 39,334 734 1.9 $363,264,395 $395,908,796 $32,644,401 9.0 $724 $774 $50 7.0
Niobrara 765 843 78 10.2 $4,875,444 $5,668,852 $793,408 16.3 $490 $517 $27 5.6
Park 13,484 13,769 285 2.1 $95,239,450 $105,905,235 $10,665,785 11.2 $543 $592 $48 8.9
Platte 3,557 3,541 -16 -0.5 $29,366,200 $31,373,919 $2,007,719 6.8 $635 $682 $47 7.3
Sheridan 13,018 13,494 476 3.7 $104,242,654 $116,629,510 $12,386,856 11.9 $616 $665 $49 7.9
Sublette 4,242 5,224 982 23.1 $39,179,050 $62,685,496 $23,506,446 60.0 $710 $923 $213 29.9
Sweetwater 24,185 25,061 876 3.6 $275,683,483 $303,038,201 $27,354,718 9.9 $877 $930 $53 6.1
Teton 17,654 18,020 366 2.1 $146,073,305 $160,178,132 $14,104,827 9.7 $636 $684 $47 7.4
Uinta 9,289 9,734 445 4.8 $75,023,838 $87,238,165 $12,214,327 16.3 $621 $689 $68 11.0
Washakie 3,922 3,971 48 1.2 $29,412,083 $33,868,105 $4,456,022 15.2 $577 $656 $79 13.7
Weston 2,192 2,335 143 6.5 $15,630,729 $18,970,664 $3,339,935 21.4 $548 $625 $77 14.0
Nonclassified b 4,217 5,329 1,112 26.4 $50,270,338 $71,805,473 $21,535,135 42.8 $917 $1,036 $119 13.0
a preliminary
b 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: October 2007
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Wyoming Department of Employment Research & Planning February 8, 2008 Contact: David Bullard, Senior Economist (307) 473-3810 |