CHEYENNE – The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported that total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll decreased by $75.4 million (-2.3%) in third quarter 2015. Employment fell by 2,983 jobs.
(-1.0%) and average weekly wage decreased by $11 (-1.3%). The mining sector (including oil & gas) lost 4,559 jobs (-16.5%). In terms of dollars, UI covered payroll represents approximately 91.5% of all wage and salary disbursements and 43.8% of personal income in the state (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2014). Analysts have noted that “minerals related employment is one of the key predictors of sales and use tax revenue” in Wyoming (CREG 2010).
Teton County gained 652 jobs (3.0%) and its total payroll increased by $3.6 million (1.6%). Sizeable job gains were seen in accommodation & food services, retail trade, administrative & waste services, and construction.
Albany County added 373 jobs (2.4%) and its total payroll grew by $7.3 million (5.0%). The largest job gains occurred in state government, construction, and other services. These job gains were partially offset by job losses in private educational services.
Employment in Platte County rose by 270 jobs (7.8%) and its total payroll increased by $4.3 million (11.9%). Job growth was seen in construction, accommodation & food services, transportation & warehousing, and local government.
Natrona County lost 1,501 jobs (-3.5%) and its total payroll fell by $46.0 million (-8.5%). Employment fell in mining (including oil & gas), manufacturing, construction, other services, and professional & technical services
Employment fell by 1,095 jobs (-3.8%) and total payroll decreased by $23.3 million (-5.6%) in Campbell County. Job losses were seen in mining (including oil & gas), construction, transportation & warehousing, and professional & technical services.
Sweetwater County lost 736 jobs (-3.0%) and its total payroll fell by $16.7 million (-4.9%). Employment fell in mining (including oil & gas), transportation & warehousing, manufacturing, and other services.
Sublette County lost 519 jobs (-10.4%) and its total payroll declined by $14.1 million (-19.4%). The largest job losses occurred in mining (including oil & gas), construction, real estate & rental & leasing, and accommodation & food services.
Employment fell by 365 jobs (-4.0%) and total payroll decreased by $4.0 million (-4.3%) in Uinta County. Job losses were seen in construction, mining (including oil & gas), professional & technical services, wholesale trade, and administrative & waste services.
* The employment data in this release represent a count of jobs, not persons. When individuals work more than one job, each job is counted separately. In contrast, the labor force, employment, and unemployment data in Research & Planning’s monthly release are counts of persons.
Preview – Fourth Quarter (October through December) 2015 Covered Employment & Wages
According to preliminary data, employment declined in fourth quarter. Total payroll fell by $138.1 million (-3.9%) and employment decreased by approximately 6,600 jobs (-2.3%). Job losses were seen in mining (including oil & gas; approximately 5,700 jobs), construction (approximately 1,000 jobs), transportation & warehousing (approximately 700 jobs), real estate & rental & leasing (approximately 350 jobs), and professional & technical services (approximately 350 jobs).
Employment grew in retail trade (approximately 1,000 jobs), local government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals; approximately 570 jobs), and health care & social assistance (approximately 300 jobs).
Detailed covered employment and wages data for Fourth Quarter 2015 are scheduled to be released on August 12, 2016.
