Covered Employment and Wages for Second Quarter 2001

Covered Employment and Wages for Second Quarter 2001

source: ES-202 Report run date: December 2001

tables by: Nancy Brennan, Economist

text by: David Bullard, Senior Economist

Unemployment Insurance (UI) covered employment¹ increased by 6,364 jobs or 2.7 percent during the second quarter of 2001 compared to second quarter 2000. Second quarter's employment increase is significantly higher than the five-year average growth of 2.0 percent (see Table 1). Total payroll increased by 8.1 percent, well above the five-year average of 5.7 percent. Average weekly wage increased by $26 or 5.3 percent, also above its five-year average of 3.6 percent.

Statewide Employment and Wages by Industry

Table 2 shows that Mining, Services, and Local Government created the largest number of jobs in second quarter. Mining added 2,593 jobs or 15.6 percent as a result of strong gains in oil & gas extraction. Employment was flat or down slightly in all other areas of Mining (metal mining, coal mining, and nonmetallic mineral mining). Services gained 1,704 jobs or 3.2 percent, including 500 jobs in business services, 500 jobs in health services, 200 jobs in private social services, and 400 jobs in engineering & management services. The reclassification of firms owned by American Indian Tribes shifted employment growth from private sector services to Local Government, which grew by 1,435 jobs or 3.9 percent.² Job gains in hospitals (200 jobs) also helped increase Local Government employment during second quarter.

Large job losses were seen in Federal Government (-576 jobs or 7.3%), Construction (-421 jobs or 2.3%), and Manufacturing (-225 jobs or -2.0%). The employment decrease in Federal Government was related to the completion of the 2000 Census last year. Construction employment was especially low in April and May when compared to 2000, but by June 2001, it had exceeded its previous year levels. Within Manufacturing, large job losses in lumber & wood products and chemicals were partially offset by gains in fabricated metal products.

Average weekly wage increased across all major industries in second quarter 2001. The largest increases (in terms of dollars) were seen in Federal Government (up $84 or 11.9%), Mining (up $42 or 4.4%), and Transportation, Communications & Public Utilities (TCPU) - (up $41 or 5.9%).

Employment and Wages by County

Table 3 shows that the employment situation across Wyoming counties was mixed. Seven counties lost employment when compared with second quarter 2000, while sixteen counties gained jobs.

Campbell County gained the largest number of jobs in second quarter, where employment increased by 1,458 or 7.9 percent. Growth was especially strong in oil & gas extraction, which increased by 800 jobs. Services increased by 300 jobs. Modest job gains were seen in almost all industries in Campbell County.

Natrona County added 703 jobs or 2.2 percent during second quarter. Strong gains in oil & gas extraction, Manufacturing, and Services were partially offset by small job losses in all levels of Government.

Uinta County experienced robust employment growth during second quarter, adding 486 jobs or 6.1 percent. Almost half of this increase was in Construction, which gained 200 jobs. Growth was also seen in Retail Trade and Services.

Employment in Albany County grew by 373 jobs or 2.7 percent. Most of the growth was in Services, especially engineering & management services.

Platte County posted the largest decrease in employment, falling by 125 jobs or 3.5 percent. It appears that this decrease was concentrated in Construction, but many other industries showed job losses as well. Government employment increased slightly.

Employment in Johnson County fell by 70 jobs or 2.5 percent during second quarter. Job losses in Retail Trade, Construction, and Manufacturing were partially offset by gains in Mining and Agriculture.

Carbon County lost 69 jobs or 1.1 percent during second quarter. Employment gains in all levels of Government were not enough to offset job losses in Retail Trade, Construction, and Mining.

Employment in Laramie County grew by 21 jobs or 0.1 percent. However, job growth was understated for several reasons. Federal Government employment fell by about 300 jobs because of the completion of the 2000 Census. Employment in Retail Trade and Services was lower than expected because two large statewide employers with worksites in Laramie County stopped reporting at the county level and now only submit statewide employment reports. These declines in employment were offset by gains in State Government and Local Government.

Average weekly wage increased in all but one Wyoming county. Sublette County saw its average weekly wage fall by $6 or 1.2 percent because of bonuses paid in second quarter 2000, but not repeated in 2001.

The counties with the three largest wage increases were found in the Northeast region. Campbell County's average wage increased by $55 or 8.9 percent as a result of wage gains in Mining (including oil & gas extraction). The average wage in Weston County grew by $40 or 8.8 percent mostly because of wage gains in Local Government and oil & gas extraction. Wage increases in Federal Government and Local Government helped push up Johnson County's average wage by $39 or 10.3 percent.

More detailed tables on second quarter covered employment and wages are located on our Internet site at

<http://doe.state.wy.us/LMI/01Q2_202/toc.htm>.

1Approximately 85-90 percent of all workers in Wyoming are covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI). Some exceptions include the self-employed and many agricultural workers.

2This reclassification was necessitated by a change in Federal Unemployment Insurance law, which now treats Indian Tribal Councils similarly to state and local governments. Previously, Indian Tribal Councils were classified as privately owned membership organizations.

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