The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll increased by $97.3 million (3.2%) in first quarter 2014. Employment rose by 3,062 jobs (1.1%) and average weekly wage increased by $18 (2.1%). In first quarter, employment grew faster than its five-year average (1.1% compared to 0.1%), total wages grew faster than their five-year average (3.2% compared to 2.6%), but average weekly wage grew just slower than its five-year average (2.1% compared to 2.4%). After losing jobs for six consecutive quarters, the mining sector (including oil & gas) gained 366 jobs (1.4%) in first quarter. 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, 2014). 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 remained approximately 2,250 jobs (0.1%) below its first quarter 2008 level. In short, the state has yet to make up all the job losses of 2009 and 2010.

Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/14Q1_QCEW/toc.htm for a complete set of tables.

Employment rose in 14 counties and fell in 9 counties (see Table). Total payroll increased in 21 counties and decreased in two counties.

Laramie County added 1,220 jobs (2.8%) and its total payroll increased by $13.6 million (2.9%). Job growth was greatest in transportation & warehousing, construction, accommodation & food services, and mining (including oil & gas). Employment fell in state government, federal government, and other services.

Teton County added 842 jobs (5.1%), but its total payroll fell by $5.4 million (-3.0%). Large job gains were seen in accommodation & food services, retail trade, construction, professional & technical services, and real estate & rental & leasing. The decrease in total payroll was related to a bonus paid in first quarter 2013 and not repeated in 2014.

Employment in Campbell County rose by 495 jobs (1.8%) and its total payroll grew by $11.4 million (3.0%). Job growth occurred in construction, accommodation & food services, wholesale trade, and transportation & warehousing. Employment fell in other services and mining.

Natrona County added 454 jobs (1.1%) and its total payroll rose by $22.9 million (4.8%). The largest job gains occurred in construction, health care & social assistance, mining (including oil & gas), and accommodation & food services. These job gains were partially offset by job losses in other services.

Carbon County gained 431 jobs (6.5%) and its total payroll rose by $17.5 million (25.3%). Construction employment rose by approximately 300 jobs and smaller gains were seen in transportation & warehousing and accommodation & food services.

Fremont County lost 375 jobs (-2.3%) and its total payroll was practically unchanged ($56,430, or 0.0%). Local government (including public schools & colleges) lost more than 150 jobs, and smaller job losses were seen in accommodation & food services, state government, construction, retail trade, and health care & social assistance.

Employment fell by 290 jobs (-1.2%) in Sweetwater County, but its total payroll rose by $8.4 million (2.4%). Job losses were seen in construction, accommodation & food services, and mining.

According to preliminary data, job growth continued to accelerate in second quarter. Total payroll rose by $148.5 million (4.6%) and employment increased by approximately 4,560 jobs (1.6%). The largest job gains occurred in construction (approximately 2,100 jobs), accommodation & food services (approximately 600 jobs), transportation & warehousing (approximately 600 jobs), mining (including oil & gas; approximately 600 jobs), and manufacturing (approximately 350 jobs). Job losses were seen in other services (more than 350 jobs), and state government (approximately 200 jobs).

Detailed covered employment and wages data for Second Quarter 2014 are scheduled to be released on February 6, 2015.

Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for First Quarter by County, 2013 and 2014a

                   Average Monthly Employment               Total Payroll                                                Average Weekly Wage
County             First Quarter         Change             First Quarter                           Change              First Quarter    Change
                   2013      2014        n       %           2013               2014                $        %         2013    2014      $       %
Total           270,881   273,943     3,062     1.1     $3,024,233,488     $3,121,576,339      $97,342,851      3.2    $859    $877     $18     2.1

Albany           15,199    15,251        52     0.3       $136,472,959       $140,011,813       $3,538,854      2.6    $691    $706     $15     2.2
Big Horn          4,085     4,044       -41    -1.0        $36,991,745        $38,820,728       $1,828,983      4.9    $697    $738     $41     5.9
Campbell         27,030    27,525       495     1.8       $382,029,072       $393,456,867      $11,427,795      3.0  $1,087  $1,100     $13     1.2
Carbon            6,662     7,093       431     6.5        $69,347,583        $86,883,322      $17,535,739     25.3    $801    $942    $141    17.6
Converse          5,982     6,298       316     5.3        $66,095,825        $73,783,253       $7,687,428     11.6    $850    $901     $51     6.0
Crook             2,232     2,271        39     1.7        $20,431,104        $21,291,054         $859,950      4.2    $704    $721     $17     2.4
Fremont          16,488    16,113      -375    -2.3       $159,476,070       $159,532,500          $56,430      0.0    $744    $762     $18     2.4
Goshen            4,511     4,479       -32    -0.7        $36,466,630        $37,372,602         $905,972      2.5    $622    $642     $20     3.2
Hot Springs       2,073     2,054       -19    -0.9        $17,226,611        $17,947,140         $720,529      4.2    $639    $672     $33     5.2
Johnson           3,190     3,250        60     1.9        $27,067,777        $29,194,327       $2,126,550      7.9    $653    $691     $38     5.8
Laramie          43,476    44,696     1,220     2.8       $462,507,155       $476,133,331      $13,626,176      2.9    $818    $819      $1     0.1
Lincoln           5,429     5,459        30     0.6        $55,831,340        $56,782,967         $951,627      1.7    $791    $800      $9     1.1
Natrona          40,925    41,379       454     1.1       $480,157,150       $503,047,259      $22,890,109      4.8    $903    $935     $32     3.5
Niobrara            904       935        31     3.4         $7,127,133         $8,623,641       $1,496,508     21.0    $606    $709    $103    17.0
Park             12,495    12,517        22     0.2       $120,925,522       $122,420,477       $1,494,955      1.2    $744    $752      $8     1.1
Platte            3,391     3,313       -78    -2.3        $32,322,741        $32,897,345         $574,604      1.8    $733    $764     $31     4.2
Sheridan         12,308    12,626       318     2.6       $114,869,460       $118,792,886       $3,923,426      3.4    $718    $724      $6     0.8
Sublette          4,744     4,621      -123    -2.6        $72,253,015        $74,623,720       $2,370,705      3.3  $1,172  $1,242     $70     6.0
Sweetwater       24,430    24,140      -290    -1.2       $346,121,487       $354,528,441       $8,406,954      2.4  $1,090  $1,130     $40     3.7
Teton            16,652    17,494       842     5.1       $178,565,826       $173,131,813      -$5,434,013     -3.0    $825    $761    -$64    -7.8
Uinta             8,747     8,614      -133    -1.5        $90,271,386        $89,324,543        -$946,843     -1.0    $794    $798      $4     0.5
Washakie          3,674     3,631       -43    -1.2        $33,435,354        $34,896,624       $1,461,270      4.4    $700    $739     $39     5.6
Weston            2,234     2,281        47     2.1        $20,742,253        $21,127,129         $384,876      1.9    $714    $712     -$2    -0.3
Nonclassified     4,018     3,859      -159    -4.0        $57,498,290        $56,952,557        -$545,733     -0.9  $1,101  $1,135     $35     3.1

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 2014.