© Copyright 2007 by the Wyoming Department of Employment, Research & Planning

WYOMING LABOR FORCE TRENDS

Vol. 44 No. 5

Construction Leads Job Growth in Wyoming

by: David Bullard, Senior Economist

Construction was the fastest growing sector and added the most jobs in Wyoming (up 2,300 jobs, or 11.2%, from March 2006). Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased slightly from 2.3% in February to 2.6% in March, but remained below its March 2006 level of 2.8% and the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.4%. Wyoming’s labor force (the sum of employed and unemployed individuals) increased by 5,776, or 2.1%, from its March 2006 level.

From February to March, Wyoming added 2,600 jobs (0.9%). This level of increase is consistent with normal seasonal patterns. Seasonal job gains were seen in Construction (500 jobs, or 2.2%), Retail Trade (500 jobs, or 1.7%), Professional & Business Services (600 jobs, or 3.6%), Leisure & Hospitality (500 jobs, or 1.7%), and Government (300 jobs, or 0.4%).

From March 2006 to March 2007, the state gained 10,600 jobs (4.0%). Construction was the fastest growing sector (2,300 jobs, or 11.2%) in March. Other rapidly growing sectors included Natural Resources & Mining (1,900 jobs, or 7.5%), Wholesale Trade (700 jobs, or 8.8%), Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities (700 jobs, or 5.3%), and Professional & Business Services (1,300 jobs, or 8.2%). More modest employment growth occurred in Manufacturing (200 jobs, or 2.1%), Retail Trade (600 jobs, or 2.0%), Financial Activities (200 jobs, or 1.8%), Educational & Health Services (600 jobs, or 2.7%), and Leisure & Hospitality (500 jobs, or 1.7%). Employment in Wyoming’s Information sector, which includes newspapers, radio and television stations, and telephone companies, was unchanged from its March 2006 level.

Across Wyoming’s 23 counties, most unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and increased slightly from February to March. Big Horn County posted the highest unemployment rate (4.7%) and was followed by Fremont County (4.6%) and Washakie & Platte counties (both 4.5%). Sublette County had the lowest unemployment rate (1.8%), followed by Campbell (2.3%) and Teton (2.5%) counties.