Third Quarter 1999 Preliminary
Employment and Payroll Estimates for Wyoming
by: Gregg Detweiler, Senior
Economist
"The predominant industries . . . were Services, Construction and Government. These . . . accounted for 83 percent of the annual growth."
W
yoming’s total nonagricultural
employment produced an annual gain of 3,500 jobs from third quarter 1998
(see Table). The predominant industries showing annual growth were
Services, Construction and Government. These industries accounted for 83 percent of the
annual growth. Wyoming's total nonagricultural wage & salary payroll grew by $51,558,884
or 3.6 percent during the same time period (see Figure), increasing
the average weekly wage (AWW) from $466 in third quarter 1998 (98Q3) to $480 in third quarter 1999 (99Q3).
Mining
Wyoming’s Mining industry is one of two industries that showed a decrease in annual employment.
The majority of the loss can be accounted for in the oil & gas extraction industry, where
approximately 1,000 jobs have been lost since first quarter 1999. This loss is considered
an anomaly to analysts and many of the labor market indicators like the
Current Employment Statistics (CES), Mass Layoff
Statistics (MLS) and Local Area Unemployment
Statistics (LAUS) did not catch this significant decline in jobs in preliminary
estimates. Wyoming’s Mining industry relies on special projects and federal legislation
which caused contractual changes on permits used to drill on U.S. Bureau of Land Management
properties. Along with the significant loss in employment comes a loss of $4,547,166 in
total payroll over-the-year. However, the AWW rose from $906 to $935 during the same time period.
Construction
Wyoming's Construction employment increased considerably compared to a year ago. With the
increase in federal highway funds, road construction stands to be the major influence in
Construction employment. Also, the increase in building permits, especially in Natrona
County, has contributed to the increase in employment. The Construction industry produced
the largest gain in total payroll from third quarter 1998, increasing by $18,216,497 or
15.0 percent over-the-year. The average weekly wage increased by $37 to a level of $559.
Manufacturing
Employment levels have stabilized throughout the Manufacturing industry. Wyoming Manufacturing
levels produce higher employment gains in the third quarter due to the harvesting of sugar
beets in late September and early October. Wyoming's Manufacturing total payroll has remained
stable as well, only showing a 3.2 percent ($2,792,842) increase from third quarter 1998.
Transportation, Communications, & Public Utilities (TCPU)
Wyoming’s Transportation employment has continued to show annual growth throughout 1999. All
of the growth has been concentrated in the Transportation industry. Employment in the
Communications and Public Utilities industries has remained stable as well. The major component
that affects these industries is the fluctuation in the state's population. Even though
employment gains were minimal, total payroll increased by $7,105,943 or 6.0 percent from third
quarter 1998. This gain also increased the AWW from $644 to $663 over-the-year.
Trade
Third quarter employment levels within the Trade industry have produced normal seasonal swings;
however, annual employment gains among individual industries have been minimal. Eating &
drinking establishments, department stores and food stores accounted for the annual growth.
Total payroll grew by $10,871,640 from third quarter 1998, causing the AWW to increase for
both Wholesale ($589) and Retail Trade ($277).
Fire
Wyoming’s Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate (FIRE) industry has seen its share of corporate
mergers, buyouts and reorganizations for the last two to three years. These tactics have
slowed growth in both employment and total payroll. Total payroll was estimated to grow by
3.8 percent or $2,253,653 from third quarter 1998, causing the AWW to increase by $34 to
$576 for third quarter 1999.
Services
The Services sector produced the largest annual employment gain of all the major industries.
Business services, hotel & lodging places and social services accounted for the majority of
the annual growth. In contrast, total payroll for Wyoming's Services industries had the
smallest increase in annual gains. Total payroll has been estimated to grow by 2.3 percent
or $5,976,906 from third quarter 1998, causing the average weekly wage to grow by $10 to a
level of $373 for third quarter 1999.
Government
Wyoming’s Government sector is comprised of three industries (federal, state and local) all
containing different seasonality. For state and local government, the third quarter represents
a shut down as well as the beginning of the school year. Third quarter marks the peak for
employment in federal government due to tourism throughout the National Parks around the state.
Total payroll is expected to grow by $10,198,656 over-the-year, with the largest gain coming
from local government. However, the average weekly wages for federal and state government are
expected to increase by at least $23 to levels of $761 and $569, respectively.
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