From fourth quarter 2007 to fourth quarter 2008, total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll increased by $198.6 million (6.7%) based upon employer UI tax filings. This increase was noticeably lower than the 5-year average of 10.3%. 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). On an over-the-year basis, employment grew by 6,467 jobs (2.3%) and average weekly wage rose by $35 (4.3%). These increases were also lower than their five-year averages of 3.4% and 6.7%, respectively. Total payroll is an important economic indicator because it is often associated with consumption, retail sales, and sales tax revenue in Wyoming.
The Table shows that employment increased in 19 counties and decreased in 4. It appears that the largest job gains occurred in areas of the state impacted by energy development. Some of the job decreases at the county level may be related to the completion of large construction projects. The covered payroll and employment data in the table are measured by place of work as compared to the labor force estimates which are a measure of employed and unemployed persons by place of residence. Also, the employment data presented in the table represent a count of jobs, not persons. When individuals work more than one job, each is counted separately.
Campbell County added the most jobs of any county (2,224 jobs, or 8.0%) and its total payroll increased by $44.5 million, or 11.8%. Large job gains were seen in construction and mining (including oil & gas). Notable growth also occurred in wholesale trade, administrative & waste services, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food services.
Natrona County added 1,071 jobs, or 2.7% in fourth quarter. Total payroll grew by $48.0 million, or 10.8%, the largest increase of any county. Notable job gains were seen in accommodation & food services, mining, health care & social assistance, and other services. Job losses occurred in transportation & warehousing, administrative & waste services, real estate & rental & leasing, and manufacturing.
Sweetwater County gained 976 jobs, or 3.9% and its total payroll grew by $36.7 million, or 11.4%. Mining (including oil & gas) added more than 700 jobs and smaller gains were seen in manufacturing, transportation & warehousing, professional & technical services, and accommodation & food services. Notable job losses occurred in construction and administrative & waste services.
Sublette County was the fastest growing county, adding 647 jobs, or 12.5% and $9.4 million, or 12.9% in total payroll. Mining, including oil & gas, added more than 400 jobs, while smaller job gains were seen in retail trade, transportation & warehousing, administrative & waste services, and local government.
Carbon County lost 773 jobs, or 9.4% and its total payroll decreased by $8.4 million, or 9.3%. The largest job losses occurred in construction (approximately 800 jobs). Some of the decrease in construction may have been related to the completion of a large project.
Employment fell by 1,152 jobs, or 15.0% and total payroll decreased by $29.7 million, or 31.5% in Lincoln County. Job losses in construction (more than 1,300 jobs) were partially offset by job gains in local government (including public schools and hospitals) and mining (including oil & gas). As in Carbon County, some of the job losses in construction may have been related to the completion of a large project.
Teton County’s employment fell by 126 jobs, or 0.7% and total payroll decreased by $3.7 million, or 2.1%. Job losses were reported in many sectors, such as retail trade; finance & insurance; management of companies & enterprises; arts, entertainment, & recreation; and other services.
For more details on fourth quarter employment and wages go to http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/0709/a1.htm
Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/08Q4_QCEW/toc.htm for a complete set of tables.
The Wyoming Covered Employment and Wages news release with 1st Quarter 2009 data is scheduled for October 30, 2009.
Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Fourth Quarter by County, 2007 and 2008a
Average Monthly Employment Total Payroll Average Weekly Wage
County Fourth Quarter Change Fourth Quarter Change Fourth Quarter Change
2007 2008 n % 2007 2008 $ % 2007 2008 $ %
Total 280,853 287,320 6,467 2.3 $2,976,265,585 $3,174,842,532 $198,576,947 6.7 $815 $850 $35 4.3
Albany 15,567 15,881 314 2.0 $131,035,371 $138,646,053 $7,610,682 5.8 $648 $672 $24 3.7
Big Horn 4,322 4,331 9 0.2 $35,826,943 $37,920,848 $2,093,905 5.8 $638 $674 $36 5.6
Campbell 27,877 30,101 2,224 8.0 $378,350,357 $422,878,532 $44,528,175 11.8 $1,044 $1,081 $37 3.5
Carbon 8,205 7,432 -773 -9.4 $89,771,998 $81,398,389 -$8,373,609 -9.3 $842 $842 $0 0.0
Converse 5,242 5,399 157 3.0 $54,902,674 $61,699,748 $6,797,074 12.4 $806 $879 $73 9.1
Crook 2,338 2,350 12 0.5 $20,139,114 $21,462,414 $1,323,300 6.6 $663 $703 $40 6.0
Fremont 16,425 16,882 457 2.8 $145,980,494 $159,146,686 $13,166,192 9.0 $684 $725 $41 6.0
Goshen 4,422 4,636 214 4.8 $31,524,343 $34,210,996 $2,686,653 8.5 $548 $568 $20 3.6
Hot Springs 2,022 2,031 9 0.4 $15,885,132 $17,390,093 $1,504,961 9.5 $604 $659 $55 9.1
Johnson 3,475 3,608 133 3.8 $29,679,869 $33,005,535 $3,325,666 11.2 $657 $704 $47 7.2
Laramie 43,731 44,125 394 0.9 $418,922,782 $431,758,671 $12,835,889 3.1 $737 $753 $16 2.2
Lincoln 7,660 6,508 -1,152 -15.0 $94,369,470 $64,660,407 -$29,709,063 -31.5 $948 $764 -$184 -19.4
Natrona 39,726 40,797 1,071 2.7 $445,249,868 $493,235,920 $47,986,052 10.8 $862 $930 $68 7.9
Niobrara 856 877 21 2.5 $5,803,334 $6,112,718 $309,384 5.3 $522 $536 $14 2.7
Park 12,901 13,098 197 1.5 $111,701,700 $117,225,101 $5,523,401 4.9 $666 $688 $22 3.3
Platte 3,397 3,324 -73 -2.1 $27,768,006 $29,792,290 $2,024,284 7.3 $629 $689 $60 9.5
Sheridan 13,547 13,941 394 2.9 $131,077,148 $139,612,936 $8,535,788 6.5 $744 $770 $26 3.5
Sublette 5,181 5,828 647 12.5 $72,867,170 $82,283,413 $9,416,243 12.9 $1,082 $1,086 $4 0.4
Sweetwater 25,044 26,020 976 3.9 $322,751,117 $359,442,118 $36,691,001 11.4 $991 $1,063 $72 7.3
Teton 17,242 17,116 -126 -0.7 $181,697,865 $177,956,680 -$3,741,185 -2.1 $811 $800 -$11 -1.4
Uinta 9,864 10,273 409 4.1 $99,246,959 $108,770,938 $9,523,979 9.6 $774 $814 $40 5.2
Washakie 4,094 4,188 94 2.3 $34,923,661 $38,470,161 $3,546,500 10.2 $656 $707 $51 7.8
Weston 2,338 2,346 8 0.3 $20,554,836 $20,504,548 -$50,288 -0.2 $676 $672 -$4 -0.6
Nonclassified 5,378 6,227 850 15.8 $76,235,374 $97,257,337 $21,021,963 27.6 $1,090 $1,201 $111 10.2
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: May 2009
| Wyoming Department of Employment Research & Planning July 31, 2009 Contact: David Bullard, Senior Economist (307) 473-3810 |