Occupations in Wyoming :
A Closer Look
by: Lee Saathoff

What is an occupation? The term occupation refers to "an activity in which one engages" or "the principal business of one's life."1 This section will look at factors that affect occupational growth, analyze occupational groups in the state of Wyoming, and show projections of what these occupational groups are projected to do through 2006.

There are numerous factors that can cause an occupation to grow or decline over time. These factors include federal or state government policy mandates, foreign government decisions, technological advances, economic conditions, population levels, family structure, and changes in demand for specific goods or services to name a few. These factors and their effects can be seen in the occupations that are projected to grow or decline. Occupational standards/requirements such as educational requirements, job skills, and previous work experience can be limiting factors in getting a job in a certain occupation.

Wyoming had a total civilian labor force ranging between 251,435 and 263,350 in 1996. The total civilian labor force varies from month to month depending on the time of the year. The total civilian labor force is usually largest in the summer months and smallest in the winter and early spring. The total civilian labor force includes both employed individuals and those who are unemployed. The unemployed include those who are 16 years of age or over and seeking employment. The Wyoming total civilian labor force and the state's economy are projected to grow gradually over the next few years.

The Wyoming economy has grown steadily since the early '90's.

The rate of growth has been relatively slow during that time period. The current projections show this slow growth trend to continue for the next few years. As has been noted, there have been industry projections done for both the short-term (1996 to 1999) and the long-term (1996 to 2006) time periods. The occupational projections were only done for the long-term (1996 to 2006) time period. The main reason for doing the long-term projections was that the 1996 to 2006 projections have been required to be done on a national basis. Since all states are producing these projections, it allows for the industry and occupational data to be compared on both the state and national levels.

The long-term projections cover a ten-year time frame. There will be two terms used when discussing this time frame, base year and projected year. Base year will refer to the year 1996 and projected year will refer to the year 2006. From the base year to the projected year, there is projected to be a net change of 13,874 workers into the employed sector of the Wyoming labor force. This amounts to a 6.26 percent change to the employed population over that ten-year period. The average yearly percent change is projected to be 0.63 percent. This does not amount to a lot of growth, but there are some occupations that are projected to have relatively substantial increases over the next ten years (see Table 1). Another factor that will not be discussed in this publication, but that must be factored in for a thorough study of the economy is replacement needs.2

There are a number of occupational coding systems. The OES coding system with their corresponding titles will be used in this publication. There are 802 possible OES occupations in this coding system, but only 672 OES occupations are in the state of Wyoming. Many of the occupations that do not show up in Wyoming are due to geographical phenomenon (Occupations such as Able Seamen, Ship Engineers, Subway and Streetcar Operators, and Nuclear Engineers). For an alphabetical listing of the 672 OES occupations and the occupational titles that are in Wyoming, see Appendix 1. For a complete listing of all 802 OES occupations, associated occupational titles, and brief descriptions of each, see the Occupational Employment Statistics - Dictionary of Occupations 1988 - 1995.

Table 1 : Top 50 Projected Growth Occupations by Net Change
OES Code Occupational Title Base Proj Chg % Chg
49011 Salespersons, Retail 6,398 7,645 1,247 19.49
49023 Cashiers 5,734 6,663 929 16.20
19005 General Mgrs & Top Execs 6,100 6,747 647 10.61
85132 Maintenance Repairers, Gen Util 3,408 3,863 455 13.35
41002 Marketing/Sales Supervisors 3,057 3,473 416 13.61
65038 Food Preparation Workers 3,344 3,713 369 11.03
87102 Carpenters 1,927 2,273 346 17.96
66008 Nursing Aides & Orderlies 2,524 2,815 291 11.53
65008 Waiters & Waitresses 5,520 5,810 290 5.25
58023 Stock Clerks: Stockroom/Warehouse 987 1,253 266 26.95
55305 Reception/Information Clerks 1,450 1,715 265 18.28
87202 Electricians 1,316 1,572 256 19.45
32502 Registered Nurses 3,419 3,669 250 7.31
66011 Home Health Aides 460 705 245 53.26
13002 Financial Managers 1,551 1,791 240 15.47
97105 Truck Drivers, Light 2,104 2,342 238 11.31
98999 Helpers & Laborers, NEC 2,428 2,656 228 9.39
98312 Carpenters & Related Helpers 642 826 184 28.66
51002 Clerical Supervisors 1,799 1,982 183 10.17
65032 Cooks, Fast Food 1,308 1,490 182 13.91
15017 Construction Managers 622 799 177 28.46
15026 Food Service & Lodging Mgrs 978 1,155 177 18.10
31311 Teachers, Special Education 805 981 176 21.86
87917 Service Unit Operators 1,043 1,211 168 16.11
68038 Child Care Workers 759 924 165 21.74
27308 Human Services Workers 347 511 164 47.26
49999 Sales & Related Workers 1,229 1,387 158 12.86
68014 Amusement & Recreation Attends 630 787 157 24.92
31321 Instructors & Coaches, Sports 637 792 155 24.33
65041 Comb Food Prep/Serv Wkrs 2,641 2,794 153 5.79
27307 Residential Counselors 585 732 147 25.13
65026 Cooks, Restaurant 2,326 2,470 144 6.19
53808 Hotel Desk Clerks 729 872 143 19.62
59999 Clerical/Admin Workers, NEC 866 1,006 140 16.17
92935 Chem Eqp Controllers/Oprs 392 529 137 34.95
81005 First Line Superv: Const, Extrac 1,526 1,653 127 8.32
31521 Teacher Aides, Paraprof 1,371 1,498 127 9.26
53905 Teacher Aides/Education Assts 1,620 1,744 124 7.65
87311 Concrete & Terrazzo Finishers 495 616 121 24.44
61099 Service Supervisors, NEC 1,554 1,673 119 7.66
49008 Sales Representatives, NEC 1,069 1,182 113 10.57
87402 Painters & Paperhangers 385 497 112 29.09
98902 Hand Packers & Packagers 907 1,017 110 12.13
13017 Engineer, Math, Nat Sci Mgrs 329 439 110 33.43
79041 Laborers, Landscp/Groundskeep 413 523 110 26.63
32308 Physical Therapists 214 317 103 48.13
32508 Emergency Medical Technicians 366 469 103 28.14
68035 Personal/Home Care Aides 176 278 102 57.95
25102 Systems Analysts 182 284 102 56.04
32102 Physicians 535 632 97 18.13

Looking at Table 1 and the OES Divisions, there are a number of occupations that are projected to have well over 100 new positions by the year 2006. The top two occupations projected to grow the most (Retail Salespersons & Cashiers) are both in the 49000 occupational division. This really is no surprise due to the projected growth in the retail trade and services industries. There are two other occupations in the 49000 occupational division that are in the top 50. This makes the 49000 division the top growth division. There are other OES divisions that have a number of occupations in the top 50 projected growth occupations. These include the divisions 31000, 32000, 65000, 66000, 68000, 87000, and 98000. Correlating these occupations with the industries that they are traditionally found in shows a direct relation of industry to occupation in some cases. The retail trade industries (SIC 5200 - 5900) are projected to all increase from 1996 - 2006 which correlates with the OES occupations 65000. Health services (SIC 8000) and social services are projected to increase substantially and the OES occupations 32000, 66000, and 68000. Construction industries are also projected to increase and there are numerous construction occupations that are projected to grow (OES occupations 87000 and 98000). The education industry is suppose to have negative growth which does not correlate with the growth of the 31000 occupations, but the education occupations that are anticipated to grow are specialty areas that are also found in other industries.

The down side to many of these growing occupations is that they do not pay very high salaries. However, there are some, such as OES 19005, 41002, 87102, 87202, 32502, and 13002 that are projected to have substantial net growth and the wages are good. Factors that are causing some of the occupational increases are the aging of the "baby boomers" causing an increased need for health service and social service occupations, more service needs are being required as less is done in the home such as construction, maintenance, food preparation, etc..., and increased tourism causing increased needs for hotel, food, amusement, and other related occupations.

Table 2 : Top 50 Projected Declining Occupations by Net Change
OES Code Occupational Title Base Proj Chg % Chg
22599 Engin Technicn/Technolog, NEC 866 848 -18 -2.08
85911 Elect Meter Installers/Rprs 42 24 -18 -42.86
53702 Court Clerks 168 149 -19 -11.31
81011 First Line Superv: Transport 264 244 -20 -7.58
22521 Surveying/Mapping Techns 213 193 -20 -9.39
31323 Farm, Home Mgmt Advisors 46 25 -21 -45.65
85311 Bus, Truck, Diesel Eng Mechs 769 746 -23 -2.99
53121 Loan & Credit Clerks 283 260 -23 -8.13
63044 Crossing Guards 155 131 -24 -15.48
92308 Sawing Machine Opers/Tenders 125 101 -24 -19.20
55341 Payroll/Timekeeping Clerks 240 215 -25 -10.42
92311 Woodworking Machine Setters 164 139 -25 -15.24
31304 Teachers, Knder, Educ Serv 300 275 -25 -8.33
98705 Refuse Collectors 119 94 -25 -21.01
58014 Meter Readers, Utilities 156 131 -25 -16.03
61002 Fire Fighting/Prevent Supervrs 158 132 -26 -16.46
63014 Police Patrol Officers 718 692 -26 -3.62
79002 Forest & Conservation Wkrs 329 303 -26 -7.90
65023 Butchers & Meat Cutters, Retail 284 253 -31 -10.92
61005 Police/Detective Supervisors 228 195 -33 -14.47
53117 Credit Checkers 112 77 -35 -31.25
85726 Station Instlrs/Reprs, Telephone 59 19 -40 -67.80
97805 Service Station Attendants 456 415 -41 -8.99
63008 Fire Fighters 393 352 -41 -10.43
81002 First Line Superv: Mech.&Repair 1,046 1,003 -43 -4.11
53902 Library Assists/Bookmobile 596 551 -45 -7.55
58002 Dispatchers: Police/Fire/Ambu 436 383 -53 -12.16
19002 Govt Chief Exec & Legislators 343 289 -54 -15.74
97317 RR Brake, Signal, Switch Oprs 264 207 -57 -21.59
31502 Librarians, Professional 371 312 -59 -15.90
85723 Elect Powerline Intlrs/Rprs 476 416 -60 -12.61
65005 Bartenders 1,409 1,349 -60 -4.26
53102 Bank Tellers 765 703 -62 -8.10
63032 Sheriffs & Deputy Sheriffs 597 527 -70 -11.73
55307 Typists, Incl Word Processing 352 279 -73 -20.74
87711 Highway Maintenance Workers 722 619 -103 -14.27
67099 Cleaning/Bldg Serv Wrks, NEC 864 755 -109 -12.62
97111 Bus Drivers, School 1,345 1,233 -112 -8.33
97102 Truck Drivers, Heavy 3,866 3,743 -123 -3.18
15005 Education Administrators 1,107 974 -133 -12.01
65028 Cooks, Institution/Cafe 1,141 999 -142 -12.45
56011 Computer Operators, Exc Peripheral 403 261 -142 -35.24
31299 Postsecondary Teachers, NEC 1,722 1,577 -145 -8.42
53502 Welfare Eligibility Workers 484 317 -167 -34.50
31308 Teachers, Secondary School 3,908 3,731 -177 -4.53
55338 Bookkpng, Accntng, Audit Clerks 4,381 4,099 -282 -6.44
49021 Stock Clerks, Sales Floor 2,202 1,908 -294 -13.35
67005 Janitors & Cleaners 4,098 3,705 -393 -9.59
31305 Teachers, Elementary 3,553 3,073 -480 -13.51
55108 Secretaries, Ex Legal or Med 4,419 3,858 -561 -12.70

There are 209 occupations that are projected to decline over the next ten years. Table 2 shows the top 50 projected declining occupations. Out of the 50 occupations projected to decline the most, there are thirteen that are in the 50000 occupational division, eleven in the 60000 occupational division, and six in the 31000 occupational division. The main reasons for most of these projected declines are the advances in technology, as well as the projected declines in the local, state, and federal government industries (SIC's 9300, 9200, and 9100). Also, the decreasing school enrollment certainly contributes to projected declines in the education industry (SIC 8200). There are other occupations that do not fall in the 31000 occupations, but will be affected by a decline in the education industry. These include 15005 Education Administrators, 97111 School Bus Drivers, 53902 Library Assistants/Bookmobile, and 63044 Crossing Guards. These declines are not large, but they will have affects on certain sectors of the civilian labor force.

Looking at percent change brings out some interesting results (see Appendix III for a complete list of OES codes by percent change). The top percent change occupation is Computer Scientists with a projected change of 140 percent. This high percent change correlates into a total of seven positions (this is an increase from the base year of five positions to twelve positions in the projected year). Eight of the top 50 projected percent growth occupations are in the 32000 OES group, Health Practitioners, Technologists, Technicians, and Related Health Occupations. Another four occupations in the top 50 percent growth are in OES 66000, Health Service and Related Occupations. There are also some other occupations in the top 50 that are often found in the medical field. This is understandable since the medical and social services industries (SICs 80 & 83) are both projected to have substantial percent changes. There are also five occupations that fall in the computer occupations in the top 50. Computer positions have been increasing dramatically over the past few years and there should be no slow downs in the near future.

The outlook for occupations in Wyoming is positive. There is not projected to be outstanding growth over all occupations, but there are occupations that look very promising. It is important to understand the concepts of numeric growth, growth rate, and replacement rate when making informed occupational decisions.


1. Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1987

2. For an explanation of replacement needs and an overview of how they affect labor demand, please refer to the article "Wyoming Public Education Industry (K-12): Aging Employment in the Wyoming Education System" in the Services section of this publication.

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