From fourth quarter 2006 to fourth quarter 2007, total Unemployment Insurance (UI) covered payroll grew by $291.3 million or 10.9%, marginally faster than its five-year average (10.1%). 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). The state’s average weekly wage rose by $54 or 7.1%, also faster than its five-year average (6.6%). Employment increased by 9,555 jobs or 3.5%.
Total payroll increased at double-digit rates in about half of Wyoming’s 23 counties and decreased in only one (see table). Job growth was seen in almost every area of the state, with only Big Horn County reporting lower employment in fourth quarter 2007. The data in the table are presented by place of work.
Campbell County’s total payroll increased by $34.7 million or 10.1% and employment grew by 1,374 jobs (5.2%). The largest job gains were in construction (almost 500 jobs) and mining (about 200 jobs), but strong growth was also seen in retail trade, other services, and local government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals).
In Lincoln County total payroll rose by $29.2 million or 44.9% and employment increased by 929 jobs or 13.7%. Job gains were seen in many sectors, but the largest increase occurred in construction (about 750 jobs).
In fourth quarter, Sublette County added 759 jobs or 17.2% and its total payroll increased by $18.1 million or 33.3%. Mining (including oil & gas) posted the largest job gains (about 500 jobs), but substantial growth was also seen in construction, wholesale trade, transportation & warehousing, and administrative & waste services.
The number of jobs in Fremont County increased by 667 (4.2%) and total payroll grew by $14.8 million or 11.2%. Large job gains occurred in local government (about 200 jobs), construction (about 150 jobs), and mining (about 100 jobs).
Natrona County added 780 jobs (2.0%) in fourth quarter and total payroll increased by $34.2 million or 8.3%. The largest job growth occurred in construction, health care & social assistance, and other services. The apparent job loss in mining (-507 jobs or -12.1%) was actually the result of the reclassification of a large firm out of Natrona County into the nonclassified region.
Laramie County’s total payroll increased by $45.1 million or 12.1% and employment grew by 1,460 jobs or 3.5%. There was substantial job growth in transportation & warehousing, retail trade, local government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals), and health care & social assistance. Employment fell in construction, finance & insurance, management of companies & enterprises, and other services.
In fourth quarter, employment fell by 362 jobs or 7.8% in Big Horn County. Its total payroll decreased by $5.4 million or 13.0%. These decreases were mostly related to a noneconomic code change. A large firm was reclassified to Sublette County, where a majority of its employees were working.
In summary, Wyoming’s economy continued to exhibit solid growth in fourth quarter. Total payroll and employment increased in practically every area of the state. The three largest contributors to total payroll growth were construction, local government (including public schools, colleges & hospitals), and mining (including oil & gas).
For more details on fourth quarter employment and wages go to http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/0708/a1.htm
Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/07Q4_QCEW/toc.htm for a complete set of tables.
The Wyoming Covered Employment and Wages news release with 1st Quarter 2008 data is scheduled for October 31, 2008.
Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Fourth Quarter by County, 2006 and 2007 a
Average Monthly Employment Total Payroll Average Weekly Wage
County Fourth Quarter Change Fourth Quarter Change Fourth Quarter Change
2006 2007 # % 2006 2007 $ % 2006 2007 $ %
Total 270,472 280,027 9,555 3.5 $2,674,735,283 $2,965,988,841 $291,253,558 10.9 $761 $815 $54 7.1
Albany 15,361 15,528 167 1.1 $122,563,491 $130,881,137 $8,317,646 6.8 $614 $648 $34 5.5
Big Horn 4,660 4,298 -362 -7.8 $41,341,720 $35,947,432 -$5,394,288 -13.0 $682 $643 -$39 -5.7
Campbell 26,436 27,810 1,374 5.2 $342,169,399 $376,870,495 $34,701,096 10.1 $996 $1,042 $46 4.6
Carbon 7,509 7,828 319 4.2 $70,048,822 $82,997,987 $12,949,165 18.5 $718 $816 $98 13.6
Converse 4,756 5,237 481 10.1 $46,143,821 $54,731,192 $8,587,371 18.6 $746 $804 $58 7.8
Crook 2,325 2,335 10 0.4 $19,210,653 $20,166,129 $955,476 5.0 $636 $664 $28 4.4
Fremont 15,751 16,418 667 4.2 $131,530,192 $146,292,363 $14,762,171 11.2 $642 $685 $43 6.7
Goshen 4,331 4,413 82 1.9 $29,244,751 $31,556,376 $2,311,625 7.9 $519 $550 $31 6.0
Hot Springs 1,932 2,014 82 4.2 $13,998,610 $15,867,919 $1,869,309 13.4 $557 $606 $49 8.8
Johnson 3,368 3,463 95 2.8 $28,112,392 $29,577,584 $1,465,192 5.2 $642 $657 $15 2.3
Laramie 42,123 43,583 1,460 3.5 $373,191,948 $418,277,198 $45,085,250 12.1 $682 $738 $56 8.2
Lincoln 6,765 7,694 929 13.7 $65,079,180 $94,313,762 $29,234,582 44.9 $740 $943 $203 27.4
Natrona 38,877 39,657 780 2.0 $409,690,479 $443,852,298 $34,161,819 8.3 $811 $861 $50 6.2
Niobrara 813 856 43 5.3 $5,262,746 $5,801,860 $539,114 10.2 $498 $521 $23 4.6
Park 12,505 12,908 403 3.2 $101,833,982 $111,723,427 $9,889,445 9.7 $626 $666 $40 6.4
Platte 3,377 3,396 19 0.6 $26,395,547 $27,773,440 $1,377,893 5.2 $601 $629 $28 4.7
Sheridan 13,149 13,531 382 2.9 $115,635,893 $131,627,919 $15,992,026 13.8 $676 $748 $72 10.7
Sublette 4,413 5,172 759 17.2 $54,494,621 $72,633,407 $18,138,786 33.3 $950 $1,080 $130 13.7
Sweetwater 24,503 25,024 521 2.1 $302,583,544 $322,624,950 $20,041,406 6.6 $950 $992 $42 4.4
Teton 16,660 17,185 525 3.2 $167,871,817 $180,604,477 $12,732,660 7.6 $775 $808 $33 4.3
Uinta 9,757 9,894 137 1.4 $87,486,297 $99,881,031 $12,394,734 14.2 $690 $777 $87 12.6
Washakie 3,889 4,098 209 5.4 $32,145,057 $34,829,095 $2,684,038 8.3 $636 $654 $18 2.8
Weston 2,182 2,340 158 7.2 $16,636,483 $21,430,443 $4,793,960 28.8 $586 $704 $118 20.1
Nonclassified b 5,031 5,347 316 6.3 $72,063,838 $75,726,920 $3,663,082 5.1 $1,102 $1,089 -$12 -1.1
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: April 2008
| Wyoming Department of Employment Research & Planning August 1, 2008 Contact: David Bullard, Senior Economist (307) 473-3810 |