The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll increased by $215.8 million (7.8%) in the first quarter of 2012. Employment rose by 6,470 jobs (2.5%) and average weekly wage increased by $42 (5.2%). Job growth in first quarter was higher than its five-year average (2.5% compared to 0.3%). Total wages and average weekly wage also grew faster than their five year averages. In terms of dollars, 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 revenue” in Wyoming (CREG 2011 http://eadiv.state.wy.us/creg/GreenCREG_Oct11.pdf).
Despite the recent growth, overall employment remains approximately 6,200 jobs (2.2%) below its first quarter 2008 level. In other words, the state has yet to recoup all the job losses of 2009 and 2010.
Employment increased in 19 counties and decreased in 4 counties (see Table). Total payroll rose in 22 counties and fell in Lincoln County.
Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/12Q1_QCEW/toc.htm for a complete set of tables.
Natrona County added 2,049 jobs (5.4%) and its total payroll increased by $53.3 million (12.9%). Large job gains were seen in mining (including oil & gas), wholesale trade, accommodation & food services, construction, and manufacturing. Employment fell in health care & social assistance, federal government, and educational services.
Laramie County employment increased by 843 jobs (2.0%) and its total payroll grew by $38.8 million (9.7%). Notable job growth occurred in construction, transportation & warehousing, mining (including oil & gas), retail trade, and professional & technical services. Job losses were seen in manufacturing, federal government, and state government.
Sweetwater County added 693 jobs (2.9%) and its total payroll rose by $35.4 million (11.3%). Large job gains were seen in mining (including oil & gas) and accommodation & food services.
Campbell County gained 653 jobs (2.4%) and its total payroll increased by $19.4 million (5.1%). Employment increased substantially in mining (including oil & gas), local government (including public schools, colleges & hospitals), and wholesale trade.
Employment increased by 465 jobs (8.7%) in Sublette County and its total payroll rose by $8.2 million (9.9%). Construction posted the largest job gains. Growth was also seen in mining (including oil & gas), real estate & rental & leasing, professional & technical services, and administrative & waste services.
Park County added 455 jobs (3.7%) and its total payroll grew by $11.1 million (10.1%). Notable job gains were seen in accommodation & food services, mining (including oil & gas), construction, and local government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals).
Teton County gained 404 jobs (2.6%) and its total payroll rose by $2.9 million (1.9%). Large job gains were seen in construction; arts, entertainment, & recreation; and accommodation & food services. Smaller job gains were seen in health care & social assistance, local government, and transportation & warehousing.
According to preliminary data, job growth slowed slightly in second quarter. Total payroll rose by $142.7 million (4.9%) and employment increased by 5,701 jobs (2.1%). The largest job gains occurred in construction (nearly 1,300 jobs), mining (including oil & gas; approximately 1,000 jobs), accommodation & food services (approximately 800 jobs), local government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals; approximately 750 jobs), and wholesale trade (approximately 450 jobs). Modest job losses were seen in private educational services (nearly 100 jobs) and finance & insurance (more than 50 jobs).
Detailed covered employment and wages data for 2nd Quarter 2012 are scheduled to be released on February 8, 2013.
Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for First Quarter by County, 2011 and 2012a
Average Monthly Employment Total Payroll Average Weekly Wage
County First Quarter Change First Quarter Change First Quarter Change
2011 2012 n % 2011 2012 $ % 2011 2012 $ %
Total 263,558 270,028 6,470 2.5 $2,769,072,169 $2,984,899,676 $215,827,507 7.8 $808 $850 $42 5.2
Albany 15,019 15,127 108 0.7 $131,904,182 $134,664,982 $2,760,800 2.1 $676 $685 $9 1.3
Big Horn 3,949 4,047 98 2.5 $33,229,456 $36,032,733 $2,803,277 8.4 $647 $685 $38 5.9
Campbell 27,109 27,762 653 2.4 $378,377,090 $397,736,585 $19,359,495 5.1 $1,074 $1,102 $28 2.6
Carbon 6,457 6,481 24 0.4 $62,550,066 $65,328,727 $2,778,661 4.4 $745 $775 $30 4.0
Converse 5,299 5,700 401 7.6 $55,851,391 $61,379,768 $5,528,377 9.9 $811 $828 $17 2.1
Crook 2,198 2,239 41 1.9 $18,343,606 $19,525,875 $1,182,269 6.4 $642 $671 $29 4.5
Fremont 16,104 16,380 276 1.7 $148,179,541 $158,610,774 $10,431,233 7.0 $708 $745 $37 5.2
Goshen 4,485 4,551 66 1.5 $33,592,332 $36,046,991 $2,454,659 7.3 $576 $609 $33 5.7
Hot Springs 2,085 2,090 5 0.2 $16,227,033 $16,897,229 $670,196 4.1 $599 $622 $23 3.8
Johnson 3,061 3,100 39 1.3 $22,778,357 $24,663,863 $1,885,506 8.3 $572 $612 $40 7.0
Laramie 41,872 42,715 843 2.0 $400,300,499 $439,104,413 $38,803,914 9.7 $735 $791 $56 7.6
Lincoln 5,832 5,631 -201 -3.4 $61,362,020 $56,781,924 -$4,580,096 -7.5 $809 $776 -$33 -4.1
Natrona 37,704 39,753 2,049 5.4 $412,904,007 $466,237,678 $53,333,671 12.9 $842 $902 $60 7.1
Niobrara 850 892 42 4.9 $6,322,315 $6,708,978 $386,663 6.1 $572 $579 $7 1.2
Park 12,144 12,599 455 3.7 $110,330,422 $121,426,744 $11,096,322 10.1 $699 $741 $42 6.0
Platte 3,463 3,386 -77 -2.2 $31,186,552 $31,885,325 $698,773 2.2 $693 $724 $31 4.5
Sheridan 12,335 12,465 130 1.1 $109,171,900 $115,037,236 $5,865,336 5.4 $681 $710 $29 4.3
Sublette 5,346 5,811 465 8.7 $82,109,302 $90,269,895 $8,160,593 9.9 $1,181 $1,195 $14 1.2
Sweetwater 23,695 24,388 693 2.9 $312,149,268 $347,514,150 $35,364,882 11.3 $1,013 $1,096 $83 8.2
Teton 15,764 16,168 404 2.6 $153,703,862 $156,607,338 $2,903,476 1.9 $750 $745 -$5 -0.7
Uinta 8,733 9,022 289 3.3 $87,884,942 $94,791,136 $6,906,194 7.9 $774 $808 $34 4.4
Washakie 3,801 3,709 -92 -2.4 $32,943,728 $33,919,138 $975,410 3.0 $667 $703 $36 5.4
Weston 2,206 2,190 -16 -0.7 $18,038,746 $19,438,789 $1,400,043 7.8 $629 $683 $54 8.6
Nonclassified b 4,049 3,824 -224 -5.5 $49,631,552 $54,289,405 $4,657,853 9.4 $943 $1,092 $149 15.8
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: July 2012
| Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Research & Planning November 2, 2012 Contacts: David Bullard, Senior Economist, 307-473-3810 Carola Cowan, BLS Programs Supervisor, 307-473-3804 |