The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll increased by $184.4 million (5.5%) in fourth quarter 2014. Employment rose by 4,426 jobs (1.6%) and average weekly wage increased by $36 (3.9%). Job growth and payroll growth both slowed slightly from third to fourth 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 2,350 jobs (0.8%) below its fourth 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/14Q4_QCEW/toc.htm for the types of industry employment and the amount of earnings by county.
Employment rose in 14 counties and fell in 9 counties (see Table). Total payroll increased in 18 counties and decreased in five counties.
Natrona County gained 1,098 jobs (2.6%) and its total payroll grew by $51.1 million (9.2%). The largest job gains were found in mining (including oil & gas), construction, transportation & warehousing, and manufacturing. Employment fell in other services and administrative & waste services.
Campbell added 1,022 jobs (3.7%) and its total payroll rose by $33.9 million (8.4%). The largest job gains were seen in mining (including oil & gas), construction, and accommodation & food services.
Laramie County added 675 jobs (1.5%) and its total payroll rose by $25.2 million (5.1%). Employment rose rapidly in transportation & warehousing, mining (including oil & gas), and accommodation & food services. Job losses occurred in retail trade, other services, and health care & social assistance.
Employment in Teton County rose by 564 jobs (3.3%) and its total payroll grew by $34.1 million (17.9%). Strong growth was seen in accommodation & food services, construction, and retail trade.
Converse County added 393 jobs (6.3%) and its total payroll rose by $11.3 million (14.7%). Construction gained approximately 200 jobs and smaller job gains were seen in mining (including oil & gas); arts, entertainment & recreation; retail trade; and manufacturing.
Sweetwater County lost 306 jobs (-1.2%), but its total payroll rose by $5.6 million (1.6%). Job losses were seen in mining (including oil & gas), retail trade, accommodation & food services, real estate & rental & leasing, manufacturing, and administrative & waste services.
Employment in Sublette County fell by 226 jobs (-4.4%) and its total payroll decreased by $1.2 million (-1.5%). Job losses were seen in administrative & waste services, construction, mining (including oil & gas), accommodation & food services, and wholesale trade.
According to preliminary data, job growth slowed further in first quarter. Total payroll rose by $92.4 million (3.0%) and employment increased by approximately 3,200 jobs (1.2%). The largest job gains occurred in accommodation & food services (approximately 900 jobs), retail trade (approximately 800 jobs), transportation & warehousing (approximately 650 jobs), and construction (approximately 600 jobs). Job losses were seen in mining (including oil & gas; nearly 250 jobs), state government (approximately 200 jobs), federal government (approximately 100 jobs), and other services (approximately 100 jobs).
Detailed covered employment and wages data for First Quarter 2015 are scheduled to be released on November 13, 2015.
Wyoming Average Monthly Employment, Total Payroll, and Average Weekly Wage for Fourth Quarter by County, 2013 and 2014a
Average Monthly Employment Total Payroll Average Weekly Wage
County Fourth Quarter Change Fourth Quarter Change Fourth Quarter Change
2013 2014 n % 2013 2014 $ % 2013 2014 $ %
Total 280,701 285,127 4,426 1.6 $3,344,359,716 $3,528,773,837 $184,414,121 5.5 $916 $952 $36 3.9
Albany 15,671 15,528 -144 -0.9 $147,364,841 $147,957,333 $592,492 0.4 $723 $733 $10 1.3
Big Horn 4,255 4,390 135 3.2 $44,081,678 $46,553,359 $2,471,681 5.6 $797 $816 $19 2.4
Campbell 27,777 28,800 1,022 3.7 $405,490,524 $439,360,641 $33,870,117 8.4 $1,123 $1,174 $51 4.5
Carbon 7,287 7,272 -14 -0.2 $84,927,122 $84,844,334 -$82,788 -0.1 $897 $897 $1 0.1
Converse 6,253 6,646 393 6.3 $76,553,297 $87,825,233 $11,271,936 14.7 $942 $1,016 $75 7.9
Crook 2,298 2,323 25 1.1 $22,290,355 $23,458,766 $1,168,411 5.2 $746 $777 $31 4.1
Fremont 16,755 16,677 -78 -0.5 $175,141,667 $181,014,563 $5,872,896 3.4 $804 $835 $31 3.8
Goshen 4,752 4,570 -182 -3.8 $41,474,474 $41,420,601 -$53,873 -0.1 $671 $697 $26 3.9
Hot Springs 2,087 2,049 -37 -1.8 $20,359,372 $20,871,262 $511,890 2.5 $751 $783 $33 4.4
Johnson 3,347 3,384 37 1.1 $31,602,633 $33,780,318 $2,177,685 6.9 $726 $768 $41 5.7
Laramie 45,650 46,325 675 1.5 $491,794,772 $517,002,212 $25,207,440 5.1 $829 $858 $30 3.6
Lincoln 5,674 5,855 181 3.2 $65,236,309 $67,310,734 $2,074,425 3.2 $884 $884 $0 0.0
Natrona 42,234 43,332 1,098 2.6 $557,887,029 $609,019,215 $51,132,186 9.2 $1,016 $1,081 $65 6.4
Niobrara 1,007 949 -57 -5.7 $9,755,712 $8,362,000 -$1,393,712 -14.3 $745 $678 -$68 -9.1
Park 13,167 13,391 224 1.7 $132,119,963 $140,457,533 $8,337,570 6.3 $772 $807 $35 4.5
Platte 3,426 3,507 82 2.4 $33,779,471 $36,613,719 $2,834,248 8.4 $759 $803 $44 5.9
Sheridan 13,152 13,403 251 1.9 $133,359,502 $139,821,279 $6,461,777 4.8 $780 $802 $22 2.9
Sublette 5,127 4,901 -226 -4.4 $78,823,154 $77,672,654 -$1,150,500 -1.5 $1,183 $1,219 $36 3.1
Sweetwater 24,559 24,253 -306 -1.2 $356,511,516 $362,084,014 $5,572,498 1.6 $1,117 $1,148 $32 2.8
Teton 17,091 17,655 564 3.3 $190,809,478 $224,904,749 $34,095,271 17.9 $859 $980 $121 14.1
Uinta 8,862 8,985 123 1.4 $124,434,132 $100,868,254 -$23,565,878 -18.9 $1,080 $864 -$217 -20.1
Washakie 3,839 3,863 24 0.6 $38,709,333 $40,560,911 $1,851,578 4.8 $776 $808 $32 4.1
Weston 2,364 2,358 -6 -0.2 $21,707,795 $22,601,918 $894,123 4.1 $706 $737 $31 4.4
Nonclassified 4,067 4,709 642 15.8 $60,145,587 $74,408,235 $14,262,648 23.7 $1,138 $1,216 $78 6.9
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 2015.
| Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Research & Planning August 14, 2015 Contacts: David Bullard, Senior Economist, 307-473-3810 Carola Cowan, BLS Programs Supervisor, 307-473-3804 |