The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 3.7% in March to 3.5% in April. Wyoming’s unemployment rate was higher than its April 2022 level of 3.2% and slightly higher than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 3.4%. Seasonally adjusted employment of Wyoming residents rose by 1,376 individuals (0.5%) from March to April as people went back to work.
From March to April, most county unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and decreased. Jobless rates often fall in April as warmer weather brings seasonal job gains in construction, professional & business services, and other sectors. The largest unemployment rate decreases occurred in Washakie (down from 5.7% to 3.9%), Big Horn (down from 4.8% to 3.6%), and Sweetwater (down from 5.0% to 3.8%) counties. Teton County’s unemployment rate rose from 2.7% in March to 3.9% in April as the ski season ended.
From April 2022 to April 2023, unemployment rates rose modestly in 11 counties, fell in nine counties, and remained unchanged in three counties. The largest increases were seen in Niobrara (up from 2.0% to 2.8%) and Goshen (up from 2.4% to 2.8%) counties. Unemployment rates fell in Weston (down from 2.8% to 2.2%), Converse (down from 3.1% to 2.6%), and Teton (down from 4.4% to 3.9%) counties.
Weston County, at 2.2%, had the lowest unemployment rate in April. It was followed by Albany, Converse, and Crook counties, each at 2.6%. The highest unemployment rates were found in Sublette, Teton, and Washakie counties, each at 3.9%.
Total nonfarm employment in Wyoming (not seasonally adjusted and measured by place of work) rose from 279,400 in April 2022 to 285,300 in April 2023, an increase of 5,900 jobs (2.1%).
May unemployment data will be released on June 19, 2023.
Wyoming Seasonally Adjusted Statewide Labor Force Estimates
Change
Month Year
April-23 March-23 April-22 absolute percent absolute percent
Total Civilian Labor Force 297,800 296,759 290,533 1,041 0.4% 7,267 2.5%
Employed 287,245 285,869 281,196 1,376 0.5% 6,049 2.2%
Unemployed 10,555 10,890 9,337 -335 -3.1% 1,218 13.0%
Unemployment Rate 3.5 3.7 3.2
| 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. |
| Seasonal Adjustment | 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. |
Not seasonally adjusted data reflect the actual economic conditions in a given area for a given time period. These data show the normal seasonal changes that occur in the economy. Most county unemployment rates are higher in the winter months because of seasonal job losses in construction, leisure & hospitality, and many other sectors. Similarly, most county unemployment rates are lower in the summer months as employment increases across the economy. Data users should use caution when comparing not seasonally adjusted data for different months, as at least part of the difference between months may reflect normal seasonal patterns.
In contrast, seasonally adjusted data have been subjected to a statistical procedure to remove the effects of normal changes that occur in the economy each year, such as seasonal hiring in the construction sector, the opening and closing of schools, and holiday hiring by retail trade establishments. There is no expectation that seasonally adjusted unemployment rates will be higher or lower in any particular month, except as the economy expands or contracts. The value of seasonally adjusted data is that it is easy to identify longer-term trends in the data and valid comparisons can be made between any two months in the series.
Research & Planning works in cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics to develop and publish unemployment rates for each county in Wyoming. However, these data are not seasonally adjusted and therefore reflect seasonal changes each month.
Table 1: Wyoming counties not seasonally adjusted unemployment
rates ranked from lowest to highest for April 2023
County Rate*
Weston County, WY 2.2
Albany County, WY 2.6
Converse County, WY 2.6
Crook County, WY 2.6
Goshen County, WY 2.8
Niobrara County, WY 2.8
Hot Springs County, WY 2.9
Campbell County, WY 3.0
Sheridan County, WY 3.1
Laramie County, WY 3.2
Platte County, WY 3.2
Wyoming 3.3
Carbon County, WY 3.5
Johnson County, WY 3.5
Lincoln County, WY 3.5
Park County, WY 3.5
Big Horn County, WY 3.6
Natrona County, WY 3.6
Uinta County, WY 3.6
Fremont County, WY 3.8
Sweetwater County, WY 3.8
Sublette County, WY 3.9
Teton County, WY 3.9
Washakie County, WY 3.9
*preliminary
Table 2: Wyoming counties not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates over-the-month rate
changes ranked from lowest to highest for April 2023
Month ago Over-the-Month
County rate Rate* Rate Change
Washakie County, WY 5.7 3.9 -1.8
Big Horn County, WY 4.8 3.6 -1.2
Sweetwater County, WY 5.0 3.8 -1.2
Fremont County, WY 4.9 3.8 -1.1
Park County, WY 4.6 3.5 -1.1
Hot Springs County, WY 3.9 2.9 -1.0
Sheridan County, WY 4.1 3.1 -1.0
Carbon County, WY 4.4 3.5 -0.9
Crook County, WY 3.5 2.6 -0.9
Natrona County, WY 4.5 3.6 -0.9
Sublette County, WY 4.8 3.9 -0.9
Johnson County, WY 4.3 3.5 -0.8
Lincoln County, WY 4.3 3.5 -0.8
Platte County, WY 4.0 3.2 -0.8
Uinta County, WY 4.4 3.6 -0.8
Wyoming 4.1 3.3 -0.8
Albany County, WY 3.3 2.6 -0.7
Campbell County, WY 3.7 3.0 -0.7
Laramie County, WY 3.9 3.2 -0.7
Niobrara County, WY 3.5 2.8 -0.7
Converse County, WY 3.2 2.6 -0.6
Goshen County, WY 3.3 2.8 -0.5
Weston County, WY 2.7 2.2 -0.5
Teton County, WY 2.7 3.9 1.2
*preliminary
Table 3: Wyoming counties not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates over-the-year
changes ranked from lowest to highest for April 2023
Year ago Over-the-Year
County Rate Rate* Rate Change
Weston County, WY 2.8 2.2 -0.6
Converse County, WY 3.1 2.6 -0.5
Teton County, WY 4.4 3.9 -0.5
Big Horn County, WY 4.0 3.6 -0.4
Sublette County, WY 4.3 3.9 -0.4
Campbell County, WY 3.3 3.0 -0.3
Natrona County, WY 3.9 3.6 -0.3
Park County, WY 3.6 3.5 -0.1
Washakie County, WY 4.0 3.9 -0.1
Wyoming 3.4 3.3 -0.1
Carbon County, WY 3.5 3.5 0.0
Crook County, WY 2.6 2.6 0.0
Laramie County, WY 3.2 3.2 0.0
Albany County, WY 2.5 2.6 0.1
Fremont County, WY 3.7 3.8 0.1
Sheridan County, WY 3.0 3.1 0.1
Sweetwater County, WY 3.7 3.8 0.1
Johnson County, WY 3.3 3.5 0.2
Platte County, WY 3.0 3.2 0.2
Uinta County, WY 3.4 3.6 0.2
Hot Springs County, WY 2.6 2.9 0.3
Lincoln County, WY 3.2 3.5 0.3
Goshen County, WY 2.4 2.8 0.4
Niobrara County, WY 2.0 2.8 0.8
*preliminary
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Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Research & Planning May 22, 2023 Contacts: David Bullard, Senior Economist, 307-473-3810 Michael Moore, Research Supervisor, 307-473-3814 |