From third quarter 2007 to third quarter 2008 (July to September), total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll increased by $267.8 million (9.9%) based upon employer UI tax filings. This increase was 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). On an over-the-year basis, employment grew by 9,110 jobs (3.2%) in third quarter and average weekly wage rose by $47 (6.4%). Across industry sectors, the largest growth in jobs and payroll was found in mining (including oil & gas). It added 2,504 jobs (9.1%) and its payroll increased by $69.6 million (14.5%). Total payroll is an important economic indicator because it is often associated with consumption, retail sales, and sales tax revenue.
The Table shows that on an over-the-year basis employment increased in 20 of Wyoming’s 23 counties. Jobs data in the table are reported by place of work, rather than place of residence. Growth in total payroll was even more widespread, with only one county showing a decrease. Many counties were affected by job growth in mining, construction, and local government. Natrona County, which had large job gains in health care & social assistance and accommodation & food services, was a notable exception.
Employment increased by 2,008 jobs (7.4%) and total payroll rose by $46.6 million (14.1%) in Campbell County. The largest job gains occurred in construction (more than 800 jobs) and mining (including oil & gas, approximately 650 jobs). Growth was also seen in wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation & warehousing, administrative & waste services, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food services.
Natrona County added 1,191 jobs (3.0%) and its total payroll increased by $42.9 million (10.9%). Health care & social assistance gained 402 jobs (8.3%), with the largest part of that increase coming from hospitals & nursing & residential care facilities. Other large job gains occurred in accommodation & food services, mining (including oil & gas), other services, and wholesale trade. Job losses were seen in transportation & warehousing and real estate & rental & leasing.
Sweetwater County’s employment rose by 1,074 jobs (4.3%) and its total payroll increased by $33.2 million (11.4%). The mining sector (including oil & gas) posted the largest job gains, followed by construction, local government, and transportation & warehousing. Employment decreased in retail trade and administrative & waste services.
Uinta County added 737 jobs (7.5%) in third quarter and its total payroll grew by $11.8 million (13.2%). Construction employment increased by more than 500 jobs. Other job gains were seen in local government (including public schools), transportation & warehousing, and accommodation & food services. Employment decreased slightly in real estate & rental & leasing and retail trade.
Employment fell by 1,081 jobs (14.2%) and total payroll decreased by $23.8 million (28.6%) in Lincoln County. The construction sector lost approximately 1,100 jobs and $26.2 million in payroll. Some of this decrease in construction may have been related to the completion of a large project. Job gains were seen in mining (including oil & gas) and local government.
Total payroll in Carbon County rose by $4.0 million (5.6%), but employment fell by 88 jobs (1.1%). More than 300 construction jobs were lost, but employment increased in many sectors, including mining, transportation & warehousing, information, professional & technical services, administrative & waste services, and accommodation & food services.
In summary, growth in jobs and total payroll increased slightly from second quarter to third quarter, but remained marginally below their five-year averages. Mining (including oil & gas) created the largest number of new jobs and growth was seen in most areas of the state.
For more details on third quarter employment and wages go to http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/0409/a1.htm
Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/08Q3_QCEW/toc.htm for a complete set of tables.
The Wyoming Covered Employment and Wages news release with 4th Quarter 2008 data is scheduled for July 31, 2009.
Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Third Quarter by County, 2007 and 2008a
Average Monthly Employment Total Payroll Average Weekly Wage
County Third Quarter Change Third Quarter Change Third Quarter Change
2007 2008 n % 2007 2008 $ % 2007 2008 $ %
Total 284,312 293,422 9,110 3.2 $2,712,377,399 $2,980,190,638 $267,813,239 9.9 $734 $781 $47 6.4
Albany 15,127 15,364 237 1.6 $123,863,391 $133,191,282 $9,327,891 7.5 $630 $667 $37 5.9
Big Horn 4,360 4,390 30 0.7 $32,886,947 $35,535,225 $2,648,278 8.1 $580 $623 $43 7.4
Campbell 27,285 29,293 2,008 7.4 $329,909,734 $376,552,488 $46,642,754 14.1 $930 $989 $59 6.3
Carbon 7,859 7,771 -88 -1.1 $71,499,060 $75,524,249 $4,025,189 5.6 $700 $748 $48 6.9
Converse 4,994 5,463 469 9.4 $44,898,073 $55,647,482 $10,749,409 23.9 $692 $784 $92 13.3
Crook 2,371 2,392 21 0.9 $18,801,167 $19,455,215 $654,048 3.5 $610 $626 $16 2.6
Fremont 16,323 16,847 524 3.2 $129,120,480 $141,699,236 $12,578,756 9.7 $608 $647 $39 6.4
Goshen 4,106 4,331 225 5.5 $27,844,767 $30,092,733 $2,247,966 8.1 $522 $534 $12 2.3
Hot Springs 2,016 2,113 97 4.8 $14,167,320 $16,227,499 $2,060,179 14.5 $541 $591 $50 9.2
Johnson 3,628 3,776 148 4.1 $27,216,442 $31,520,911 $4,304,469 15.8 $577 $642 $65 11.3
Laramie 43,585 44,260 675 1.5 $391,395,811 $413,219,437 $21,823,626 5.6 $691 $718 $27 3.9
Lincoln 7,590 6,509 -1,081 -14.2 $83,153,367 $59,339,030 -$23,814,337 -28.6 $843 $701 -$142 -16.8
Natrona 39,498 40,689 1,191 3.0 $392,926,859 $435,780,256 $42,853,397 10.9 $765 $824 $59 7.7
Niobrara 833 848 15 1.8 $5,374,967 $5,663,888 $288,921 5.4 $496 $514 $18 3.6
Park 14,888 15,134 246 1.7 $114,349,747 $128,396,444 $14,046,697 12.3 $591 $653 $62 10.5
Platte 3,282 3,242 -40 -1.2 $24,727,714 $25,663,952 $936,238 3.8 $580 $609 $29 5.0
Sheridan 13,623 13,997 374 2.7 $118,056,399 $129,798,186 $11,741,787 9.9 $667 $713 $46 6.9
Sublette 5,466 5,823 357 6.5 $68,433,368 $81,180,539 $12,747,171 18.6 $963 $1,072 $109 11.3
Sweetwater 24,791 25,865 1,074 4.3 $292,013,255 $325,216,986 $33,203,731 11.4 $906 $967 $61 6.7
Teton 21,193 21,582 389 1.8 $186,931,730 $205,167,026 $18,235,296 9.8 $678 $731 $53 7.8
Uinta 9,885 10,622 737 7.5 $89,238,998 $101,012,169 $11,773,171 13.2 $694 $732 $38 5.5
Washakie 4,019 4,206 187 4.7 $32,851,078 $35,289,715 $2,438,637 7.4 $629 $645 $16 2.5
Weston 2,260 2,336 76 3.4 $17,782,588 $20,438,584 $2,655,996 14.9 $605 $673 $68 11.2
Nonclassified 5,331 6,567 1,236 23.2 $74,934,137 $98,578,106 $23,643,969 31.6 $1,081 $1,155 $73 6.8
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 2009
| Wyoming Department of Employment Research & Planning May 8, 2009 Contact: David Bullard, Senior Economist (307) 473-3810 |