From second quarter 2007 to second quarter 2008, total Unemployment Insurance (UI) covered payroll increased by $232.2 million or 8.7%. This increase is slightly lower than the 5-year average. 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). Employment grew by 8,185 jobs or 2.9% in second quarter and average weekly wage rose by $41 or 5.5%. The payroll and employment in this report are tabulated by place of work, rather than place of residence. Total payroll is an important economic indicator because it is often associated with consumption, retail sales, and sales tax revenue.
The Table shows that total payroll and employment each increased in 21 of Wyoming’s 23 counties.
Campbell County added 1,673 jobs (6.1%) and its total payroll increased by $44.2 million (13.3%). Mining (including oil & gas) added over 450 jobs and construction added over 400 jobs. Growth was also seen in retail trade, administrative & waste services, health care & social assistance, other services, and local government.
Employment increased in Laramie County by 1,066 jobs, or 2.5% in second quarter. The largest job gains were seen in local government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals), health care & social assistance, construction, finance & insurance, and transportation & warehousing. Employment fell in retail trade, management of companies & enterprises, administrative & waste services, and other services.
Teton County’s total payroll rose by $15.5 million (9.7%) and its employment increased by 844 jobs (4.7%). The largest job gains occurred in accommodation & food services (over 600 jobs). Employment also increased in construction, retail trade, transportation & warehousing, and arts, entertainment & recreation.
Natrona County gained 781 jobs (2.0%) in second quarter. Its total payroll increased by $27.6 million (7.0%). Health care & social assistance added 309 jobs (6.4%) and its total payroll grew by $7.1 million (14.9%). Other large job gains were seen in construction, wholesale trade, and other services. Notable job losses occurred in real estate & rental & leasing and transportation & warehousing.
Converse County added 509 jobs (10.3%) and total payroll grew by $9.6 million or 20.5%. Construction employment increased by over 300 jobs. Job gains were also seen in mining and local government.
Fremont County added 498 jobs (3.1%) and total payroll rose by $4.0 million (2.8%). Employment decreased slightly in manufacturing, information, and health care & social assistance. Local government gained almost 300 jobs, and smaller job gains were seen in wholesale trade, retail trade, and other services.
In Lincoln County total payroll decreased by $3.0 million (-4.3%) and employment fell by 458 jobs (-6.4%). Employment and wages in the construction sector fell dramatically in second quarter (a decrease of approximately 550 jobs and $6.7 million in payroll). Some of this decrease in construction may be related to the completion of a large project. Minor job losses in manufacturing, retail trade, and accommodation & food services were partially offset by gains in mining and local government.
In summary, payroll growth and job growth both slowed in second quarter and fell below their five-year averages. The vast majority of counties saw increases in jobs and total payroll.
For more details on second quarter employment and wages go to http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/0109/a1.htm
Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/08Q2_QCEW/toc.htm for a complete set of tables.
The Wyoming Covered Employment and Wages news release with 3rd Quarter 2008 data is scheduled for May 8, 2009.
Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Second Quarter by County, 2007 and 2008 a
Average Monthly Employment Total Payroll Average Weekly Wage
County Second Quarter Change Second Quarter Change Second Quarter Change
2007 2008 # % 2007 2008 $ % 2007 2008 $ %
Total 279,225 287,410 8,185 2.9 $2,684,444,342 $2,916,685,108 $232,240,766 8.7 $740 $781 $41 5.5
Albany 15,589 15,749 160 1.0 $127,356,003 $132,837,278 $5,481,275 4.3 $628 $649 $21 3.3
Big Horn 4,370 4,395 25 0.6 $33,246,852 $36,313,910 $3,067,058 9.2 $585 $636 $51 8.7
Campbell 27,277 28,950 1,673 6.1 $331,621,131 $375,854,382 $44,233,251 13.3 $935 $999 $64 6.8
Carbon 7,616 7,784 168 2.2 $69,807,293 $76,268,746 $6,461,453 9.3 $705 $754 $49 7.0
Converse 4,937 5,446 509 10.3 $46,846,027 $56,451,901 $9,605,874 20.5 $730 $797 $67 9.2
Crook 2,408 2,428 20 0.8 $19,275,263 $20,231,401 $956,138 5.0 $616 $641 $25 4.1
Fremont 16,268 16,766 498 3.1 $141,213,120 $145,165,804 $3,952,684 2.8 $668 $666 -$2 -0.3
Goshen 4,255 4,431 176 4.1 $28,773,938 $32,458,516 $3,684,578 12.8 $520 $563 $43 8.3
Hot Springs 2,072 2,112 40 1.9 $13,806,155 $15,461,017 $1,654,862 12.0 $513 $563 $50 9.7
Johnson 3,456 3,567 111 3.2 $26,566,399 $28,051,362 $1,484,963 5.6 $591 $605 $14 2.4
Laramie 43,092 44,158 1,066 2.5 $383,055,268 $405,158,761 $22,103,493 5.8 $684 $706 $22 3.2
Lincoln 7,167 6,709 -458 -6.4 $68,923,009 $65,937,260 -$2,985,749 -4.3 $740 $756 $16 2.2
Natrona 39,337 40,118 781 2.0 $395,517,665 $423,068,644 $27,550,979 7.0 $773 $811 $38 4.9
Niobrara 844 838 -6 -0.7 $5,673,352 $5,689,938 $16,586 0.3 $517 $522 $5 1.0
Park 13,780 14,157 377 2.7 $105,995,332 $117,917,263 $11,921,931 11.2 $592 $641 $49 8.3
Platte 3,546 3,550 4 0.1 $31,389,367 $32,894,742 $1,505,375 4.8 $681 $713 $32 4.7
Sheridan 13,495 13,885 390 2.9 $116,675,413 $127,831,389 $11,155,976 9.6 $665 $708 $43 6.5
Sublette 5,244 5,495 251 4.8 $63,394,549 $85,335,964 $21,941,415 34.6 $930 $1,195 $265 28.5
Sweetwater 25,076 25,388 312 1.2 $303,223,875 $322,666,593 $19,442,718 6.4 $930 $978 $48 5.2
Teton 18,036 18,880 844 4.7 $160,522,166 $176,062,011 $15,539,845 9.7 $685 $717 $32 4.7
Uinta 9,716 10,170 454 4.7 $87,308,096 $97,490,962 $10,182,866 11.7 $691 $737 $46 6.7
Washakie 3,974 4,085 111 2.8 $33,870,546 $33,434,470 -$436,076 -1.3 $656 $630 -$26 -4.0
Weston 2,335 2,381 46 2.0 $18,970,461 $20,924,104 $1,953,643 10.3 $625 $676 $51 8.2
Nonclassified b 5,335 5,970 634 11.9 $71,413,062 $83,178,690 $11,765,628 16.5 $1,030 $1,072 $42 4.1
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: October 2008
| Wyoming Department of Employment Research & Planning February 6, 2009 Contact: David Bullard, Senior Economist (307) 473-3810 |