While employment continued to grow faster than its five-year average, payroll growth has moderated from the rapid growth seen during 2006 and in the first part of 2007. From third quarter 2006 to third quarter 2007, total Unemployment Insurance (UI) covered payroll grew by $198.2 million or 7.9%, marginally slower than its five-year average (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 wages rose by $29 or 4.1%, also slower than their five year average (6.2%). Employment increased by 10,039 jobs or 3.7%, almost a full percentage point faster than its five-year average (2.8%).
Employment and payroll increased in most areas of the state. Employment fell in only three counties (Big Horn, Goshen, and Platte) and total payroll decreased in only two (Big Horn and Laramie).
Laramie County’s employment rose by 1,613 jobs or 3.8% in third quarter. Total payroll fell by $21.5 million or 5.2%, mostly because of a large lump sum payment or bonus in accommodation & food services that was paid in third quarter 2006, but not repeated in 2007. The largest job gains occurred in transportation & warehousing, health care & social assistance, local government (including public schools, colleges, and hospitals), and retail trade.
Campbell County added 1,427 jobs (5.5%) and its total payroll grew by $24.4 million or 8.0%. Employment fell slightly in mining, but grew rapidly in construction, retail trade, other services, and local government.
Employment grew by 1,056 jobs or 16.2% in Lincoln County and total payroll increased by $28.8 million or 53.6%. Construction was responsible for the largest part of the increase in employment (about 950 jobs).
Sublette County’s employment also rose rapidly, increasing by 879 jobs or 19.2% in third quarter. Large job gains were seen in mining (including oil & gas; about 550 jobs) and construction (over 100 jobs). Total payroll grew by $21.7 million or 46.5%.
Natrona County’s total payroll increased by $34.6 million or 9.7% and employment grew by 844 jobs or 2.2%. Large job gains were seen in construction, accommodation & food services, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. The large job losses in mining are the result of the reclassification of a large firm out of Natrona County into the nonclassified region.
Fremont County added 797 jobs or 5.1% and its total payroll grew by $11.4 million or 9.7%. Mining, construction, and local government posted the largest job gains.
Big Horn County’s employment fell by 460 jobs (9.5%) and payroll fell by $6.6 million (-16.6%), 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.
In third quarter, employment fell by 49 jobs or 1.2% in Goshen County. Total payroll increased by $1.4 million or 5.4%. Minor job losses were seen in a number of sectors including construction, retail trade, transportation & warehousing, and arts, entertainment & recreation.
In Platte County, employment decreased by 12 jobs or 0.4% but total payroll grew by $1.0 million or 4.3%. Employment fell slightly in wholesale trade, transportation & warehousing, administrative & waste services, and health care & social assistance.
For more details on third quarter employment and wages go to http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/0408/a1.htm
Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/07Q3_QCEW/toc.htm for a complete set of tables.
The Wyoming Covered Employment and Wages news release with 4th Quarter 2007 data is scheduled for August 1, 2008.
Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Third Quarter by County, 2006 and 2007a
Average Monthly Employment Total Payroll Average Weekly Wage
County Third Quarter Change Third Quarter Change Third Quarter Change
2006 2007 # % 2006 2007 $ % 2006 2007 $ %
Total 274,060 284,099 10,039 3.7 $2,511,603,105 $2,709,804,040 $198,200,935 7.9 $705 $734 $29 4.1
Albany 14,876 15,095 218 1.5 $114,646,402 $123,704,666 $9,058,264 7.9 $593 $630 $38 6.3
Big Horn 4,826 4,366 -460 -9.5 $39,441,678 $32,879,145 -$6,562,533 -16.6 $629 $579 -$49 -7.9
Campbell 25,812 27,239 1,427 5.5 $303,853,856 $328,219,538 $24,365,682 8.0 $906 $927 $21 2.4
Carbon 7,582 7,903 320 4.2 $61,636,599 $72,519,123 $10,882,524 17.7 $625 $706 $81 12.9
Converse 4,817 4,999 182 3.8 $39,405,989 $44,900,433 $5,494,444 13.9 $629 $691 $62 9.8
Crook 2,329 2,367 38 1.6 $17,059,882 $18,741,344 $1,681,462 9.9 $563 $609 $46 8.1
Fremont 15,494 16,291 797 5.1 $117,426,523 $128,839,512 $11,412,989 9.7 $583 $608 $25 4.4
Goshen 4,140 4,091 -49 -1.2 $26,344,247 $27,758,198 $1,413,951 5.4 $490 $522 $32 6.6
Hot Springs 1,963 2,013 50 2.5 $12,443,725 $14,149,506 $1,705,781 13.7 $488 $541 $53 10.9
Johnson 3,482 3,606 124 3.6 $25,091,402 $27,147,878 $2,056,476 8.2 $554 $579 $25 4.5
Laramie 41,983 43,596 1,613 3.8 $412,978,659 $391,460,220 -$21,518,439 -5.2 $757 $691 -$66 -8.7
Lincoln 6,510 7,566 1,056 16.2 $53,786,968 $82,611,055 $28,824,087 53.6 $636 $840 $204 32.2
Natrona 38,648 39,492 844 2.2 $358,009,614 $392,567,512 $34,557,898 9.7 $713 $765 $52 7.3
Niobrara 796 829 34 4.2 $4,986,637 $5,367,696 $381,059 7.6 $482 $498 $16 3.3
Park 14,643 14,899 256 1.7 $107,603,735 $114,432,424 $6,828,689 6.3 $565 $591 $26 4.5
Platte 3,309 3,297 -12 -0.4 $23,689,206 $24,714,448 $1,025,242 4.3 $551 $577 $26 4.7
Sheridan 13,055 13,626 571 4.4 $102,255,912 $118,077,093 $15,821,181 15.5 $603 $667 $64 10.6
Sublette 4,580 5,458 879 19.2 $46,661,330 $68,337,365 $21,676,035 46.5 $784 $963 $179 22.9
Sweetwater 24,422 24,804 383 1.6 $278,036,117 $292,000,972 $13,964,855 5.0 $876 $906 $30 3.4
Teton 20,799 21,130 331 1.6 $179,384,848 $186,484,392 $7,099,544 4.0 $663 $679 $15 2.3
Uinta 9,491 9,859 368 3.9 $77,516,614 $89,022,422 $11,505,808 14.8 $628 $695 $66 10.6
Washakie 3,918 4,004 87 2.2 $30,199,827 $32,772,569 $2,572,742 8.5 $593 $630 $37 6.2
Weston 2,130 2,259 129 6.0 $15,051,639 $17,793,488 $2,741,849 18.2 $543 $606 $62 11.5
Nonclassified b 4,455 5,308 853 19.1 $64,091,696 $75,303,041 $11,211,345 17.5 $1,107 $1,091 -$15 -1.4
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: January 2008
| Wyoming Department of Employment Research & Planning May 9, 2008 Contact: David Bullard, Senior Economist (307) 473-3810 |