The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.8% in December 2011, unchanged from a month earlier. Wyoming’s jobless rate has stayed between 5.7% and 5.9% since June 2011. However, it was considerably lower than its December 2010 level of 6.4% and significantly below the current U.S. rate of 8.5%. Seasonally adjusted employment of Wyoming residents rose for the fourth consecutive month, increasing by an estimated 782 individuals (0.3%) from November to December.
Most county unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and increased slightly from November to December. As colder weather sets in, employment tends to decrease in construction, professional & business services, and other sectors. In contrast to the statewide trend, jobless rates decreased in Teton (down from 12.1% in November to 8.4% in December), Hot Springs (down from 5.0% to 4.6%), Natrona (down from 5.6% to 5.5%), and Albany (down from 4.2% to 4.1%) counties.
Sublette County posted the lowest unemployment rate in December (3.2%). It was followed by Albany (4.1%), and Campbell and Niobrara counties (both 4.2%). Many of the highest unemployment rates were found in the western part of the state. Teton County’s jobless rate was 8.4%. The next highest unemployment rates were seen in Lincoln (8.0%), and Park and Fremont counties (both 6.9%).
Jobless rates fell from December 2010 to December 2011 in 22 of the state’s 23 counties. The largest decreases occurred in Carbon (down from 7.5% to 6.3%), Hot Springs (down from 5.8% to 4.6%), and Johnson (down from 7.8% to 6.7%) counties. Goshen County’s unemployment rate edged upward from 5.1% to 5.2%.
Total nonfarm employment (measured by place of work) rose from 282,600 in December 2010 to 289,000 in December 2011, an increase of 6,400 jobs (2.3%).
Research & Planning has scheduled the January employment news release for March 13, 2012.
Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment--by place of residence
Unemployed Unemployment
Labor Force Employment Number Rate
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Dec Nov Dec Dec Nov Dec Dec Nov Dec Dec Nov Dec
COUNTY 2011 2011 2010 2011 2011 2010 2011 2011 2010 2011 2011 2010
__________ (p) (r) (b) (p) (r) (b) (p) (r) (b) (p) (r) (b)
Albany 20,294 20,581 19,593 19,460 19,710 18,736 834 871 857 4.1 4.2 4.4
Big Horn 5,063 5,182 4,931 4,744 4,876 4,570 319 306 361 6.3 5.9 7.3
Campbell 26,779 26,933 26,940 25,667 25,819 25,624 1,112 1,114 1,316 4.2 4.1 4.9
Carbon 7,231 7,414 7,383 6,774 6,959 6,831 457 455 552 6.3 6.1 7.5
Converse 7,509 7,603 7,279 7,165 7,250 6,913 344 353 366 4.6 4.6 5.0
Crook 3,449 3,521 3,340 3,271 3,353 3,153 178 168 187 5.2 4.8 5.6
Fremont 18,864 19,173 18,787 17,567 17,888 17,416 1,297 1,285 1,371 6.9 6.7 7.3
Goshen 6,464 6,586 6,301 6,127 6,254 5,977 337 332 324 5.2 5.0 5.1
Hot Springs 2,496 2,544 2,510 2,382 2,417 2,365 114 127 145 4.6 5.0 5.8
Johnson 3,848 3,942 3,743 3,589 3,688 3,451 259 254 292 6.7 6.4 7.8
Laramie 43,131 43,445 43,101 40,233 40,619 40,027 2,898 2,826 3,074 6.7 6.5 7.1
Lincoln 8,030 8,022 7,861 7,391 7,439 7,172 639 583 689 8.0 7.3 8.8
Natrona 41,772 41,836 40,375 39,463 39,507 37,746 2,309 2,329 2,629 5.5 5.6 6.5
Niobrara 1,287 1,329 1,208 1,233 1,273 1,147 54 56 61 4.2 4.2 5.0
Park 14,250 14,425 14,067 13,263 13,446 13,055 987 979 1,012 6.9 6.8 7.2
Platte 4,150 4,221 3,950 3,913 3,981 3,698 237 240 252 5.7 5.7 6.4
Sheridan 15,629 15,782 15,646 14,597 14,757 14,531 1,032 1,025 1,115 6.6 6.5 7.1
Sublette 7,274 7,365 6,975 7,044 7,135 6,689 230 230 286 3.2 3.1 4.1
Sweetwater 23,925 24,132 23,639 22,822 23,010 22,304 1,103 1,122 1,335 4.6 4.6 5.6
Teton 12,549 11,706 12,590 11,491 10,288 11,475 1,058 1,418 1,115 8.4 12.1 8.9
Uinta 10,602 10,762 11,272 10,027 10,179 10,627 575 583 645 5.4 5.4 5.7
Washakie 4,399 4,429 4,322 4,172 4,207 4,068 227 222 254 5.2 5.0 5.9
Weston 3,212 3,249 3,217 3,038 3,081 3,026 174 168 191 5.4 5.2 5.9
Statewide 292,204 294,181 289,031 275,432 277,135 270,602 16,772 17,046 18,429 5.7 5.8 6.4
Statewide Seasonally Adjusted........................................................ 5.8 5.8 6.4
U.S.................................................................................. 8.3 8.2 9.1
U.S. Seasonally Adjusted............................................................. 8.5 8.7 9.4
(p) Preliminary, (r) Revised, (b) Benchmarked
Wyoming Seasonally Adjusted Statewide Labor Force Estimates
Change
Month Year
Dec-11 Nov-11 Dec-10 absolute percent absolute percent
Total Civilian Labor Force 294,237 293,548 291,118 689 0.2% 3,119 1.1%
Employed 277,311 276,529 272,618 782 0.3% 4,693 1.7%
Unemployed 16,926 17,019 18,500 -93 -0.5% -1,574 -8.5%
Unemployment Rate 5.8 5.8 6.4
| Definitions: | |
| Employed | All persons who, during the reference week, did any work at all as paid employees, worked in their own business, profession, or on their own farm, or worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in a family business. |
| Unemployed | All persons who had no employment during the reference week, were available for work, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. |
| Labor Force | All persons who meet the criteria given above as either employed or unemployed. |
| Unemployment Rate | The number of unemployed as a percent of the labor force. |
Current Employment Statistics (CES) Estimates and Research & Planning's Short-Term Projections, December 2011
Industry Sector Current Employment
Research & Planning's Statistics (CES) N %
Short-Term Projections Estimates Difference Difference
Total Nonfarm 285,179 289,000 3,821 1.3%
Natural Resources & Mining 28,127 28,900 773 2.7%
Construction 18,885 21,600 2,715 12.6%
Manufacturing 9,324 8,900 -424 -4.8%
Wholesale Trade 8,999 8,800 -199 -2.3%
Retail Trade 29,344 30,000 656 2.2%
Transportation & Utilities 14,435 14,400 -35 -0.2%
Information 3,852 3,900 48 1.2%
Financial Activities 10,526 10,800 274 2.5%
Professional & Business Serv 17,113 17,700 587 3.3%
Educational & Health Service 27,074 26,500 -574 -2.2%
Leisure & Hospitality 31,018 29,900 -1,118 -3.7%
Other Services 11,863 11,700 -163 -1.4%
Government 74,619 75,900 1,281 1.7%
Projections were run in November 2011 and based on QCEW data through June 2011.
For an explanation of the table shown above, please see New Monthly Feature in Trends: Comparison of Current Employment Statistics (CES) Estimates to Short-Term Employment Projections
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Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Research & Planning January 24, 2012 Contact: David Bullard, Senior Economist 307-473-3804 Carola Cowan, BLS Programs Supervisor 307-473-3804 |