Wyoming Jobless Rate at 5.8% in November 2011
According to the Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, the state's seasonally adjusted1 unemployment rate was 5.8% in November 2011. It has remained between 5.7% and 5.9% since June of this year. Wyoming's unemployment rate was significantly lower than the U.S. rate of 8.6%. Seasonally adjusted employment of Wyoming residents rose by an estimated 970 individuals (0.4%) from October to November, its third consecutive increase.
From October to November, most jobless rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and increased. As winter weather arrives in the state, employment tends to fall in construction, leisure & hospitality, and other sectors. Teton County's jobless rate rose from 7.8% to 11.8%. Unemployment usually rises in Teton County each November as the summer tourist season has ended and the ski season has not begun. Park County also saw unemployment rise considerably, increasing from 5.5% to 6.7%. Niobrara County's unemployment rate decreased slightly (down from 4.5% to 4.2%).
The lowest unemployment rates in November were found in Sublette (3.1%), Campbell (4.1%), and Niobrara (4.2%) counties. Teton County posted the highest unemployment rate (11.8%). It was followed by Lincoln (7.2%), Park (6.7%), and Fremont (6.7%) counties.
Unemployment rates fell from November 2010 to November 2011 in all of Wyoming's 23 counties. Lincoln County reported the largest decrease, with its unemployment rate falling from 8.3% to 7.2%. Sizeable decreases were also seen in Carbon (down from 7.2% to 6.2%), Natrona (down from 6.5% to 5.6%), Johnson (down from 7.2% to 6.3%), and Niobrara (down from 5.1% to 4.2%) counties.
Total nonfarm employment (measured by place of work) increased from 281,300 in November 2010 to 289,600 in November 2011, a gain of 8,300 jobs (3.0%). The online version of this news release (http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/news.htm) now includes a table comparing these estimates with projections of employment by sector and a map of county unemployment rates.
1Seasonal adjustment is a statistical procedure to remove the impact of normal regularly recurring events (such as weather, major holidays, and the opening and closing of schools) from economic time series to better understand changes in economic conditions from month to month.
