"Labor Market Information (LMI) is an applied science; it is the systematic collection and analysis of data which describes and predicts the relationship between labor demand and supply." The States' Labor Market Information Review, ICESA, 1995, p. 7.
Welcome to the Wyoming Labor Market Information website of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services' Research & Planning section.
Research & Planning (R&P) is an exclusively statistical entity within the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services that collects, analyzes, and publishes timely and accurate labor market information (LMI) meeting established statistical standards.
Research & Planning has moved to an all-electronic format for Wyoming Labor Force Trends. If you would like to receive Trends electronically but are not currently doing so, please contact R&P Research Supervisor Michael Moore at michael.moore@wyo.gov or (307) 473-3814.
Selected quarterly turnover tables and figures for Wyoming.
In second quarter 2024 (2024Q2), Wyoming had six growing industries and eight declining industries. It is worth noting that this marked the first time since 2021Q1 during the pandemic that Wyoming had more declining industries than growing.
The number of growing industries increased to six from four last quarter. Wyoming's six growing industries in 2024Q2 accounted for 7.4% of all industries and 6.7% of the state's total employment.
There were eight declining industries in 2024Q2, compared to four last quarter. Declining industries made up 9.9% of all industries and 1.9% of total employment.
Growing and declining industries home
From second quarter 2023 to second quarter 2024, total employment in Wyoming rose by 2,288 jobs (0.8%) and total payroll increased by $212.0 million (5.3%). Employment rose in 12 counties and fell in 11 counties. Total payroll increased in 20 counties and decreased in three counties.
2024Q2 Employment and Wage Tables
Summary Statistics by Industry, 2001Q1-2024Q2
New Summary Statistics by County, 2001Q1-2024Q2
Research & Planning provides labor market information presentations to government entities, community groups, educators, training providers, and others free of charge. If you would like to discuss a presentation, please contact R&P Research Supervisor Michael Moore at michael.moore@wyo.gov or (307) 473-3814.
Recently added presentations include the following:
Getting to Know Wyoming's Workforce. Presented at the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Annual Meeting on October 30, 2024, by Michael Moore, R&P Research Supervisor.
An Update on Wyoming’s Labor Market – Fall 2024. Presented to the Wyoming Workforce Development Council on September 12, 2024, by Michael Moore, R&P Research Supervisor.
All presentations are available by clicking here.
The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly from 3.0% in August to 3.1% in September. Wyoming’s unemployment rate was modestly higher than its September 2023 level of 2.9%, but much lower than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 4.1%.
Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates show that total nonfarm employment in Wyoming (not seasonally adjusted and measured by place of work) rose from 297,900 in September 2023 to 299,700 in September 2024, an increase of 1,800 jobs (0.6%).
Current News Release | News Release Archive
Local Area Unemployment Statistics: Monthly and annual civilian labor force estimates for the state of Wyoming, its 23 Counties, and selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas and cities through September 2024.
Current Employment Statistics: Monthly nonagricultural wage and salary employment by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) sector. Updated with monthly data and annual averages for Wyoming, Laramie County, and Natrona County through 2023.
There were 1,021 initial claims in September 2024, up from 899 in August (122, or 13.6%). It is normal for initial claims to increase in September as some employers lay off summer staff. The greatest over-the-month increase was in leisure & hospitality (87, or 75.7%).
The total number of continued weeks claimed increased from 5,481 in September 2023 to 5,922 in September 2024 (441, or 8.0%). The total number of unique claimants increased from 1,957 to 2,080 (123, or 6.3%) over the year, and decreased by 8.7% over the month.
The September 2024 Unemployment Insurance claims report also provides detailed information on initial and continued claims at the industry and county levels.
September 2024 UI Claims Report
NEW: Statewide, Regional, County, and MSA Data (estimates for Wyoming wages for May 2022 data updated to the March 2024 ECI Employment Cost Index).
Wyoming is projected to add approximately 35,000 new jobs over the next 10 years, according to the newest long-term industry and occupational employment projections.
2022-2032 Long-Term Industry and Occupational Projections home (HTML)
Full publication (PDF)
Welcome to the 2024 edition of the Wyoming Workforce Annual Report, produced by the Research & Planning (R&P) section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services in partnership with the Wyoming Workforce Development Council. This report provides an overview of Wyoming’s economy and workforce. Chapters in this report include:
Wyoming's average monthly employment in 2023 was 278,582, an over-the-year increase of 6,362 jobs, or 2.3%. Wyoming had $16.5 billion in total wages, a record high and an over-the-year increase of $1.1 billion, or 7.3%. The state's average annual wage was $59,064, up $2,745 (4.9%) compared to 2022.
Wyoming is projected to add more than 8,000 jobs over the next two years, according to new short-term industry and occupational projections.
2023-2025 Short-Term Industry and Occupational Projections home (HTML)
Full publication (PDF)
News Release | Tables and Figures | CFOI Main Page
The number of occupational fatalities in Wyoming rose from 27 in 2021 to 34 in 2022 (an increase of seven deaths, or 25.9%). Variations in fatalities from year to year are, to some extent, the result of the random nature of work-related accidents. Furthermore, there is not always a direct relationship between workplace fatalities and workplace safety.
Across all industries, more than half of 2022 workplace deaths (55.9%) were the result of transportation incidents. Transportation incidents include highway crashes, pedestrian vehicular incidents, aircraft incidents, and water vehicle incidents.
Wyoming’s nonfatal occupational injury and illness incidence rate for all industries in 2022 was 3.0, according to the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII). Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers.
This publication is intended to introduce the reader to the data available for Wyoming from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses.
The 2023 Directory of Licensed Occupations in Wyoming, compiled by the Research & Planning (R&P) section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, provides detailed information about license requirements and related information for the 98 occupations required to have a license by the state of Wyoming. Forty-five licensing boards oversee the administration and enforcement of these licenses.
Requiring practitioners of some occupations to be licensed results in the assurance that these workers have a minimum level of education and competency, and also generally results in higher wages for workers in those occupations compared to those in many unlicensed occupations.
PDF (3.1 MB)
These tables provide detailed information on licensed individuals working in Wyoming, including employment by region, age, and gender.
Table of Contents (HTML)
The Research & Planning (R&P) section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services conducts the Wyoming Benefits Survey on a quarterly basis. This survey is designed to collect information about the types of benefits Wyoming employers offer their employees.
This publication examines the prevalence of employer-provided benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave in Wyoming during first quarter 2022. These benefits are analyzed in several ways: by full- and part-time employment status, employer size class, industry, and by Wyoming substate region.
PDF (3.9 MB)
List of STEM occupations and long-term projections for STEM occupations in Wyoming and the U.S., 2020-2030.
In 2020, Wyoming employers added an estimated 79,650 new hires: individuals who, during a particular quarter, started working for an employer he or she had not worked for since at least 1992, the first year for which R&P has wage records.
The New Hires Survey allows R&P to collect rich survey detail not previously available, such as occupation, rate of compensation, benefits, important job skills, employer satisfaction with a new hire’s skills, retention, and more. By linking New Hires Survey data to existing administrative databases, such as Unemployment Insurance Wage Records and Wyoming Department of Transportation driver’s license files, R&P is also able to identify new hires characteristics such as age and gender.
Using survey data collected through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Population Survey (CPS), this new report from the Research & Planning (R&P) section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services looks at how the global pandemic impacted workers in Wyoming and the U.S.
Topics covered in this report include:
A new publication from the Research & Planning (R&P) section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services demonstrates R&P's ability to track Wyoming high school seniors into post-secondary education and the labor market.
The senior cohort for the academic year 2006/07 was used as an example throughout the publication. Key findings showed that 10 years after their senior year:
New postsecondary education employment outcomes data for graduates of Wyoming community colleges and the University of Wyoming are now available online by clicking here.
For more information on how to navigate these interactive Tableau graphics, please see this article in Wyoming Labor Force Trends.
This report, prepared by the Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, serves as supporting documentation for Wyoming’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Annual Report for Program Year 2019. The primary focus of this report is Wyoming youth, which is defined for these purposes as individuals ages 15-24, and other populations with barriers to employment, such as homeless, English language learners, veterans, and others.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for Wyoming
In 2017, the Wyoming joint labor, health, and social services interim and the joint minerals, business, and economic development interim committees requested the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services complete a study on the state’s gender wage gap (House Bill 0209). This report is an update to a similar report published in 2003.
Presentation: PowerPoint | PDF
Published October 5, 2018. Revised December 3, 2018.
Nearly one in four (22.5%) persons working in Wyoming in 2018Q1 commuted from another county or state.
Published December 2018.
The following are some of the specific locations on our website that may have useful information for you as you consider your employment options: