Wyoming Labor Force Trends

Local Jobs and Payroll in Wyoming: Mining Sector Contracts in Fourth Quarter 2012

by: David Bullard, Senior Economist
tables by: Nancy Brennan, Senior Economist

Table 1: Percentage Change in Wyoming Covered Employment and Wages for Fourth Quarter 2008 (2008Q4) to Fourth Quarter 2012 (2012Q4)

Total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll increased by $127.7 million (4.0%) in fourth quarter 2012. Employment rose by 866 jobs (0.3%) and average weekly wage increased by $32 (3.7%). In fourth quarter, total wages, employment, and average weekly wage grew slightly faster than their five year averages. However, large job losses in the mining sector (including oil & gas; -1,278 jobs, or -4.5%) caused overall job growth to slow to its lowest level in more than two years. Additionally, employment at temporary help agencies fell by nearly 400 jobs.

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Also Inside:

Total Wages, Average Monthly Employment, and Average Monthly Wage Changes for Wyoming by Year/Quarter: 2004Q1 to 2013Q1

qcew-change

The Cornerstone: Building an American Public Policy for Educational Attainment and Success in the Labor Market

(This is an excerpt from The Cornerstone: Building an American Public Policy for Educational Attainment and Success in the Labor Market, available in its entirety here. It is part of a series of articles forthcoming in Wyoming Labor Force Trends on the intersection of higher education and education and workforce policy in the United States.)
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Figure: 2000 Cohort in 2010

Where Did They Go?

2000 Cohort in 2010 Tracking the Exit of 18-Year-Olds Working in Wyoming in 2000 and Where They Were Working in 2010

Wyoming Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.6% in May 2013

Figure: Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate

The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services has reported that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 4.8% in April to 4.6% in May (not a statistically significant change). It remained significantly lower than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 7.6%. Seasonally adjusted employment of Wyoming residents increased slightly, rising by 983 individuals (0.3%) from April to May.
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