Wyoming Jobless Rate Unchanged at 5.3% in April 2012

by: David Bullard, Senior Economist

The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services has reported that the state's seasonally adjusted¹ unemployment rate held steady at 5.3% in April. It decreased considerably from its year-ago level of 6.0% and remained significantly lower than the current U.S. rate of 8.1%. Seasonally adjusted employment of Wyoming residents was essentially unchanged from March to April (-37 individuals, or 0.0%), but rose significantly from a year earlier (an increase of 5,306 individuals, or 1.9%).

Most county unemployment rates decreased from March to April. Teton County was the exception, where the unemployment rate rose from 6.6% in March to 11.2% in April. It is normal for Teton County's jobless rate to increase in April as that month marks the end of the winter tourist season.

Teton County posted the highest unemployment rate in April (11.2%). It was followed by Lincoln (8.5%), Fremont (6.6%), and Johnson (6.4%) counties. The lowest jobless rates were found in Sublette (3.4%), Campbell (4.1%), and Albany (4.1%) counties.

Compared to a year earlier, jobless rates decreased in most areas of the state. Large decreases were seen in Teton (down from 13.4% to 11.2%), Johnson (down from 7.8% to 6.4%), Lincoln (down from 9.6% to 8.5%), and Carbon (down from 6.8% to 5.8%) counties. Unemployment rates increased slightly in Niobrara (up from 4.2% to 4.7%), Washakie (up from 5.5% to 5.8%), and Platte (up from 5.3% to 5.5%) counties.

Total nonfarm employment (measured by place of work) increased from 279,300 in April 2011 to 280,700 in April 2012, a gain of 1,400 jobs (0.5%).