The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll increased by $196.9 million (6.3%) in the quarter ending September 2014 based on employer tax filings. Employment rose by 5,219 jobs (1.8%) and average weekly wage increased by $37 (4.4%). In third quarter, employment (1.8% compared to 0.9%), total wages (6.3% compared to 4.0%), and average weekly wage (4.4% compared to 3.0%) all grew faster than their five year averages. Nearly half (2,401, or 46.0%) of the jobs added in third quarter were in the construction sector. 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 2,950 jobs (1.0%) below its third quarter 2008 level. It appears that the state is getting close to making up all the job losses of 2009 and 2010.
Visit our website at http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/14Q3_QCEW/toc.htm for the types of industry employment and the amount of earnings by county.
Employment rose in 15 counties, fell in seven counties, and was unchanged in Platte County (see Table). Total payroll increased in 21 counties and fell in two.
Campbell County added 1,777 jobs (6.5%) and its total payroll rose by $41.5 million (11.2%). Strong job growth was seen in construction, mining (including oil & gas), transportation & warehousing, and wholesale trade.
Natrona County added 835 jobs (2.0%) and its total payroll rose by $44.1 million (8.9%). The largest job gains occurred in mining (including oil & gas), construction, and transportation & warehousing. Growth was also seen in manufacturing, retail trade, and health care & social assistance. Employment fell in other services and accommodation & food services.
Employment rose by 788 jobs (3.7%) in Teton County and total payroll grew by $25.7 million (13.1%). Large job gains were seen in accommodation & food services, construction, retail trade, local government, and professional & technical services.
Laramie County’s employment increased by 633 jobs (1.4%) and its total payroll grew by $14.3 million (3.0%). Sizeable job gains were seen in transportation & warehousing, accommodation & food services, and mining (including oil & gas). Employment fell in retail trade, construction, and other services.
Converse County added 430 jobs (7.1%) and its total payroll rose by $10.8 million (15.7%). The construction sector grew by more than 200 jobs and mining (including oil & gas) grew by approximately 100 jobs. Modest gains were seen in manufacturing and administrative & waste services.
Sweetwater County lost 542 jobs (-2.2%), but total payroll rose by $6.7 million (2.0%). Employment fell in mining (including oil & gas), accommodation & food services, and administrative & waste services. Smaller job losses were seen in retail trade, real estate & rental & leasing, other services, and manufacturing.
Employment in Sublette County fell by 273 jobs (-5.2%) and its total payroll fell by $1.4 million (-1.8%). Job losses were seen in construction, administrative & waste services, mining (including oil & gas), transportation & warehousing, and wholesale trade.
According to preliminary data, job growth moderated slightly in fourth quarter. Total payroll rose by $184.4 million (5.2%) and employment increased by approximately 4,400 jobs (1.6%). The largest job gains occurred in construction (approximately 1,650 jobs), transportation & warehousing (nearly 1,000 jobs), mining (nearly 850 jobs), and accommodation & food services (approximately 550 jobs). Employment fell by approximately 200 jobs in other services and approximately 200 jobs in state government.
Detailed covered employment and wages data for Fourth Quarter 2014 are scheduled to be released on August 14, 2015.
Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Third Quarter by County, 2013 and 2014a
Average Monthly Employment Total Payroll Average Weekly Wage
County Third Quarter Change Third Quarter Change Third Quarter Change
2013 2014 n % 2013 2014 $ % 2013 2014 $ %
Total 285,726 290,945 5,219 1.8 $3,119,244,931 $3,316,104,524 $196,859,593 6.3 $840 $877 $37 4.4
Albany 15,282 15,363 81 0.5 $141,102,416 $145,323,497 $4,221,081 3.0 $710 $728 $18 2.5
Big Horn 4,346 4,540 194 4.5 $39,550,871 $44,711,295 $5,160,424 13.0 $700 $758 $58 8.3
Campbell 27,156 28,933 1,777 6.5 $371,814,972 $413,336,348 $41,521,376 11.2 $1,053 $1,099 $46 4.4
Carbon 7,339 7,397 58 0.8 $76,587,253 $80,104,033 $3,516,780 4.6 $803 $833 $30 3.7
Converse 6,027 6,457 430 7.1 $68,406,429 $79,177,374 $10,770,945 15.7 $873 $943 $70 8.0
Crook 2,317 2,405 88 3.8 $22,085,044 $23,114,007 $1,028,963 4.7 $733 $739 $6 0.8
Fremont 16,733 16,562 -171 -1.0 $163,384,876 $163,199,902 -$184,974 -0.1 $751 $758 $7 0.9
Goshen 4,460 4,459 -1 0.0 $36,431,712 $37,602,866 $1,171,154 3.2 $628 $649 $21 3.3
Hot Springs 2,188 2,117 -71 -3.2 $18,933,645 $19,187,595 $253,950 1.3 $666 $697 $31 4.7
Johnson 3,509 3,538 29 0.8 $29,709,571 $32,526,440 $2,816,869 9.5 $651 $707 $56 8.6
Laramie 45,675 46,308 633 1.4 $483,366,394 $497,656,760 $14,290,366 3.0 $814 $827 $13 1.6
Lincoln 5,718 5,798 80 1.4 $57,332,792 $59,332,842 $2,000,050 3.5 $771 $787 $16 2.1
Natrona 41,993 42,828 835 2.0 $496,580,723 $540,642,479 $44,061,756 8.9 $910 $971 $61 6.7
Niobrara 924 923 -1 -0.1 $7,230,352 $7,315,395 $85,043 1.2 $602 $610 $8 1.3
Park 15,117 15,166 49 0.3 $138,987,537 $142,648,523 $3,660,986 2.6 $707 $724 $17 2.4
Platte 3,455 3,455 0 0.0 $33,498,615 $36,118,035 $2,619,420 7.8 $746 $804 $58 7.8
Sheridan 13,187 13,577 390 3.0 $120,984,863 $128,665,799 $7,680,936 6.3 $706 $729 $23 3.3
Sublette 5,262 4,989 -273 -5.2 $74,324,207 $72,958,333 -$1,365,874 -1.8 $1,087 $1,125 $38 3.5
Sweetwater 24,679 24,137 -542 -2.2 $337,452,552 $344,169,721 $6,717,169 2.0 $1,052 $1,097 $45 4.3
Teton 21,091 21,879 788 3.7 $196,417,960 $222,118,576 $25,700,616 13.1 $716 $781 $65 9.1
Uinta 8,900 9,071 171 1.9 $89,381,693 $92,091,546 $2,709,853 3.0 $773 $781 $8 1.0
Washakie 3,891 3,813 -78 -2.0 $36,896,117 $37,598,934 $702,817 1.9 $729 $759 $30 4.1
Weston 2,296 2,297 1 0.0 $20,355,118 $21,205,549 $850,431 4.2 $682 $710 $28 4.1
Nonclassified 4,180 4,932 752 18.0 $58,429,219 $75,298,675 $16,869,456 28.9 $1,075 $1,174 $99 9.2
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: January 2015.
| Wyoming Department of Workforce
Services Research & Planning May 8, 2015 Contact: David Bullard, Senior Economist, 307-473-3810 |