The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll increased by $140.0 million (5.3%) in first quarter 2011. Employment rose by 2,652 jobs (1.0%) and average weekly wage increased by $33 (4.3%) compared to a year earlier. These increases were similar to their five-year averages. The mining sector (including oil & gas) continued to be responsible for the largest number of new jobs and the greatest growth in payroll. UI covered payroll represents approximately 91% of all wage and salary disbursements and 43% of personal income in the state (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2011). Analysts have noted that “minerals related employment is one of the key predictors of sales and use tax income” in Wyoming (CREG 2010). The covered payroll and employment data in this article are tabulated by place of work.
Employment increased in 15 counties and decreased in 8 counties (see Table). Total payroll rose in 21 counties and fell in 2 counties.
Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/11Q1_QCEW/toc.htm for a complete set of tables.
Sweetwater County gained 1,197 jobs (5.3%) and its total payroll grew by $34.2 million (12.3%). Mining (including oil & gas) added approximately 500 jobs, and smaller gains were seen in construction, transportation & warehousing, administrative & waste services, and local government.
Natrona County added 722 jobs (2.0%) and its total payroll rose by $38.3 million (10.2%). The largest job gains occurred in mining (including oil & gas), other services, wholesale trade, and manufacturing. Job losses were seen in retail trade, professional & technical services, and construction.
Laramie County grew by 344 jobs (0.8%) and its total payroll increased by $10.2 million (2.6%). Transportation & warehousing reported the largest job gains followed by health care & social assistance and retail trade. Employment decreased in construction and professional & technical services.
Fremont County’s employment increased by 310 jobs (2.0%) and its total payroll grew by $10.8 million (7.9%). Job growth was seen in mining (including oil & gas), professional & technical services, and accommodation & food services.
Sublette County added 224 jobs (4.4%) and its total payroll rose by $12.0 million (17.1%). Mining gained approximately 300 jobs, but employment decreased by nearly 150 jobs in construction.
For more details on first quarter employment and wages go to http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/trends/1011/qcew.htm
Preview—Second Quarter (April through June) 2011 Covered Employment & Wages
According to preliminary data, in second quarter 2011 growth in payroll and jobs was slightly more modest than first quarter. Total payroll increased by $129.7 million (4.6%) and employment grew by 2,227 jobs (0.8%). It appears that the mining sector (including oil & gas) continued to add jobs at a robust pace, while sizeable job losses were seen in construction. Notable job gains occurred in transportation & warehousing, administrative & waste services, manufacturing, and health care & social assistance. Government employment fell with the completion of data collection for the decennial census and job losses continued in retail trade.
Complete covered employment and wages data for 2nd Quarter 2011 are scheduled to be released on February 3, 2012.
Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for First Quarter by County, 2010 and 2011a
Average Monthly Employment Total Payroll Average Weekly Wage
County First Quarter Change First Quarter Change First Quarter Change
2010 2011 n % 2010 2011 $ % 2010 2011 $ %
Total 260,726 263,378 2,652 1.0 $2,627,558,836 $2,767,530,691 $139,971,855 5.3 $775 $808 $33 4.3
Albany 15,028 15,008 -20 -0.1 $128,516,135 $131,681,422 $3,165,287 2.5 $658 $675 $17 2.6
Big Horn 3,884 3,970 86 2.2 $31,218,426 $33,428,832 $2,210,406 7.1 $618 $648 $30 4.9
Campbell 27,351 27,105 -246 -0.9 $372,057,334 $378,684,422 $6,627,088 1.8 $1,046 $1,075 $29 2.8
Carbon 6,428 6,429 1 0.0 $61,464,590 $62,361,324 $896,734 1.5 $736 $746 $10 1.4
Converse 5,396 5,292 -104 -1.9 $55,218,749 $55,787,920 $569,171 1.0 $787 $811 $24 3.0
Crook 2,189 2,201 12 0.5 $17,335,747 $18,346,931 $1,011,184 5.8 $609 $641 $32 5.3
Fremont 15,772 16,082 310 2.0 $137,171,283 $147,955,765 $10,784,482 7.9 $669 $708 $39 5.8
Goshen 4,457 4,465 8 0.2 $31,565,202 $33,672,697 $2,107,495 6.7 $545 $580 $35 6.4
Hot Springs 2,066 2,071 5 0.2 $15,668,659 $16,008,898 $340,239 2.2 $583 $595 $12 2.1
Johnson 3,013 3,057 44 1.5 $22,723,036 $22,743,572 $20,536 0.1 $580 $572 -$8 -1.4
Laramie 41,476 41,820 344 0.8 $389,809,088 $399,990,390 $10,181,302 2.6 $723 $736 $13 1.8
Lincoln 5,708 5,838 130 2.3 $54,670,106 $61,386,396 $6,716,290 12.3 $737 $809 $72 9.8
Natrona 36,890 37,612 722 2.0 $373,644,640 $411,910,802 $38,266,162 10.2 $779 $842 $63 8.1
Niobrara 862 850 -12 -1.4 $6,118,312 $6,321,085 $202,773 3.3 $546 $572 $26 4.8
Park 12,110 12,129 19 0.2 $109,844,890 $110,277,125 $432,235 0.4 $698 $699 $1 0.1
Platte 3,401 3,447 46 1.4 $28,556,700 $31,145,023 $2,588,323 9.1 $646 $695 $49 7.6
Sheridan 12,451 12,313 -138 -1.1 $110,007,542 $108,871,164 -$1,136,378 -1.0 $680 $680 $0 0.0
Sublette 5,119 5,343 224 4.4 $70,118,354 $82,104,229 $11,985,875 17.1 $1,054 $1,182 $128 12.1
Sweetwater 22,502 23,699 1,197 5.3 $278,092,034 $312,265,211 $34,173,177 12.3 $951 $1,014 $63 6.6
Teton 15,837 15,771 -66 -0.4 $144,913,375 $153,655,524 $8,742,149 6.0 $704 $749 $45 6.4
Uinta 8,800 8,723 -77 -0.9 $90,288,924 $87,811,569 -$2,477,355 -2.7 $789 $774 -$15 -1.9
Washakie 3,775 3,783 8 0.2 $31,050,754 $32,909,849 $1,859,095 6.0 $633 $669 $36 5.7
Weston 2,267 2,204 -63 -2.8 $17,877,166 $18,029,682 $152,516 0.9 $607 $629 $22 3.6
Nonclassified 3,945 4,166 222 5.6 $49,627,790 $50,180,859 $553,069 1.1 $968 $926 -$41 -4.3
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: July 2011
| Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Research & Planning November 4, 2011 Contacts: David Bullard, Senior Economist, 307-473-3810 Carola Cowan, BLS Programs Supervisor, 307-473-3804 |