Wyoming Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 4.1% in April 2015

by: David Bullard, Senior Economist

The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported that the state’s seasonally adjusted¹ unemployment rate held steady from March to April at 4.1%. Wyoming’s unemployment rate was slightly lower than its April 2014 level of 4.3% and significantly lower than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 5.4%. Seasonally adjusted employment of Wyoming residents increased, rising by an estimated 912 individuals (0.3%) from March to April.

From March to April, most county unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and decreased. The largest declines occurred in Big Horn (down from 5.7% to 4.2%), Lincoln (down from 6.2% to 4.9%), and Fremont (down from 6.3% to 5.1%) counties. Teton County’s unemployment rate increased from 3.9% in March to 6.9% in April. Unemployment usually increases in Teton County in April with the end of the ski season.

From April 2014 to April 2015, unemployment rates decreased in 12 counties, increased in nine counties, and were unchanged in two counties. The largest decreases were found in Teton (down from 8.2% to 6.9%), Lincoln (down from 5.9% to 4.9%), and Crook (down from 4.4% to 3.4%) counties. Unemployment rates rose in Natrona (up from 4.0% to 4.7%), Converse (up from 3.0% to 3.5%), Sublette (up from 4.8% to 5.3%), and Sweetwater (up from 4.0% to 4.5%) counties.

Niobrara County posted the lowest unemployment rate in April (2.5%). It was followed by Albany (2.7%), Goshen (3.2%), and Crook (3.4%) counties. The highest unemployment rates were found in Teton (6.9%), Sublette (5.3%), and Uinta (5.3%) counties.

Total nonfarm employment (measured by place of work) rose from 286,400 in April 2014 to 287,600 in April 2015, a gain of 1,200 jobs (0.4%).

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.