The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll increased by $127.7 million (4.0%) in fourth quarter 2012. Employment rose by 866 jobs (0.3%) and average weekly wage increased by $32 (3.7%). In fourth quarter, total wages, employment, and average weekly wage grew slightly faster than their five year averages. However, large job losses in the mining sector (including oil & gas; -1,278 jobs, or -4.5%) caused overall job growth to slow to its lowest level in more than two years. Additionally, employment at temporary help agencies fell by nearly 400 jobs. Temporary employment is often cited nationally as a leading economic indicator, so this decrease may suggest continued weakness in the state’s economy. In terms of dollars, UI covered payroll represents approximately 91.5% of all wage and salary disbursements and 43.8% of personal income in the state (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2013). Analysts have noted that “minerals related employment is one of the key predictors of sales and use tax revenue” in Wyoming (CREG 2010).
Despite the recent growth, overall employment remains approximately 8,600 jobs (3.0%) below its fourth quarter 2008 level. In short, the state has yet to make up all the job losses of 2009 and 2010.
Employment rose in 11 counties and fell in 12 counties (see Table). Total payroll increased in 19 counties and decreased in four counties.
Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/12Q4_QCEW/toc.htm for a complete set of tables.
Natrona County added 1,372 jobs (3.4%) and its total payroll rose by $43.4 million (8.7%). The largest job gains occurred in construction, accommodation & food services, wholesale trade, and transportation & warehousing.
Employment in Laramie County grew by 753 jobs (1.7%) and its total payroll increased by $51.0 million (11.4%). Construction added 172 jobs (6.2%) and growth was also seen in local government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals), wholesale trade, and retail trade. Employment fell in manufacturing, federal government, and professional & technical services.
Teton County added 534 jobs (3.4%) and its total payroll rose by $21.9 million (12.9%). Accommodation & food services added more than 300 jobs, while smaller gains occurred in administrative & waste services, professional & technical services, and real estate, rental, & leasing.
Employment in Converse County rose by 283 jobs (4.9%) and its total payroll grew by $7.2 million (11.0%). The largest job gains occurred in mining (including oil & gas), local government, and transportation & warehousing.
Carbon County gained 268 jobs (4.1%) and its total payroll increased by $0.4 million (0.6%). Construction added more than 150 jobs and modest gains were seen in retail trade and professional & technical services.
Sublette County lost 939 jobs (-15.2%) and its total payroll fell by $11.4 million (-12.3%). Large job losses were seen in mining (including oil & gas; approximately 500 jobs) and construction (approximately 200 jobs).
Employment fell by 346 jobs (-5.7%) in Lincoln County and its total payroll decreased by $3.4 million (-5.1%). Construction lost approximately 150 jobs and employment also fell in mining (including oil & gas), accommodation & food services, and transportation & warehousing.
According to preliminary data, job growth remained weak in first quarter. Total payroll rose by $31.4 million (1.1%) and employment increased by 460 jobs (0.2%). The largest job gains occurred in accommodation & food services (approximately 600 jobs), construction (approximately 450 jobs), local government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals; approximately 450 jobs), and health care & social assistance (approximately 200 jobs). Large job losses were seen in mining (including oil & gas; approximately 1,700 jobs) and administrative & waste services (approximately 400 jobs).
Detailed covered employment and wages data for 1st Quarter 2013 are scheduled to be released on November 8, 2013.
Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Fourth Quarter by County, 2011 and 2012a
Average Monthly Employment Total Payroll Average Weekly Wage
County Fourth Quarter Change Fourth Quarter Change Fourth Quarter Change
2011 2012 n % 2011 2012 $ % 2011 2012 $ %
Total 278,015 278,881 866 0.3 $3,165,745,021 $3,293,435,548 $127,690,527 4.0 $876 $908 $32 3.7
Albany 15,578 15,493 -85 -0.5 $152,096,495 $143,123,399 -$8,973,096 -5.9 $751 $711 -$40 -5.3
Big Horn 4,344 4,274 -70 -1.6 $41,705,225 $42,446,581 $741,356 1.8 $739 $764 $25 3.4
Campbell 28,033 27,711 -322 -1.1 $397,594,333 $400,212,249 $2,617,916 0.7 $1,091 $1,111 $20 1.8
Carbon 6,593 6,861 268 4.1 $74,068,680 $74,483,611 $414,931 0.6 $864 $835 -$29 -3.4
Converse 5,753 6,036 283 4.9 $65,041,008 $72,208,963 $7,167,955 11.0 $870 $920 $50 5.7
Crook 2,319 2,333 14 0.6 $20,758,857 $22,029,565 $1,270,708 6.1 $689 $726 $37 5.4
Fremont 16,948 16,921 -27 -0.2 $166,570,347 $171,159,338 $4,588,991 2.8 $756 $778 $22 2.9
Goshen 4,769 4,689 -80 -1.7 $39,852,475 $40,315,911 $463,436 1.2 $643 $661 $18 2.8
Hot Springs 2,135 2,110 -25 -1.2 $18,659,078 $19,303,302 $644,224 3.5 $672 $704 $32 4.8
Johnson 3,261 3,304 43 1.3 $27,866,067 $30,752,052 $2,885,985 10.4 $657 $716 $59 9.0
Laramie 43,584 44,337 753 1.7 $448,882,945 $499,895,941 $51,012,996 11.4 $792 $867 $75 9.5
Lincoln 6,092 5,746 -346 -5.7 $66,925,221 $63,528,944 -$3,396,277 -5.1 $845 $850 $5 0.6
Natrona 40,321 41,693 1,372 3.4 $499,237,798 $542,648,249 $43,410,451 8.7 $952 $1,001 $49 5.1
Niobrara 924 955 31 3.4 $7,348,836 $7,878,918 $530,082 7.2 $612 $635 $23 3.8
Park 13,211 13,301 90 0.7 $128,139,422 $131,089,665 $2,950,243 2.3 $746 $758 $12 1.6
Platte 3,416 3,350 -66 -1.9 $32,520,907 $31,793,848 -$727,059 -2.2 $732 $730 -$2 -0.3
Sheridan 12,959 12,947 -12 -0.1 $130,409,366 $137,463,719 $7,054,353 5.4 $774 $817 $43 5.6
Sublette 6,177 5,238 -939 -15.2 $92,534,522 $81,134,521 -$11,400,001 -12.3 $1,152 $1,192 $40 3.5
Sweetwater 24,990 25,217 227 0.9 $347,002,418 $361,330,394 $14,327,976 4.1 $1,068 $1,102 $34 3.2
Teton 15,836 16,370 534 3.4 $169,998,827 $191,913,337 $21,914,510 12.9 $826 $902 $76 9.2
Uinta 9,254 9,107 -147 -1.6 $95,466,604 $96,625,669 $1,159,065 1.2 $794 $816 $22 2.8
Washakie 3,995 3,970 -25 -0.6 $38,054,673 $39,207,614 $1,152,941 3.0 $733 $760 $27 3.7
Weston 2,308 2,359 51 2.2 $20,104,551 $21,237,497 $1,132,946 5.6 $670 $693 $23 3.4
Nonclassified 5,214 4,559 -655 -12.6 $84,906,366 $71,652,261 -$13,254,105 -15.6 $1,253 $1,209 -$44 -3.5
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: April 2013
| Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Research & Planning August 30, 2013 Contacts: David Bullard, Senior Economist, 307-473-3810 Carola Cowan, BLS Programs Supervisor, 307-473-3804 |