Sweetwater County Payroll Falls by 825 Jobs and 20.5 Million Dollars in Second Quarter of 2015

Sweetwater County Payroll Falls by 825 Jobs and 20.5 Million Dollars in Second Quarter of 2015

Energy industry shops are empty or underutilized with low energy prices.

CHEYENNE – In late February, the Research and Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported that total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll decreased by $24.4 million (-0.8%) in the second quarter of 2015.

Employment fell by 1,483 jobs (-0.5%) and average weekly wage decreased by $2 (-0.2%). The mining sector (including oil & gas) lost 3,184 jobs (-11.8%). 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).

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Visit their website for the types of industry employment and the amount of earnings by county.

Employment rose in ten counties and fell in thirteen other counties. Likewise total payroll increased in ten counties and decreased in thirteen counties.

Sweetwater County lost 825 jobs (-3.4%) and its total payroll fell by $20.5 million (-5.7%). The largest job losses were in mining (including oil & gas), construction, manufacturing, and other services. Employment increased in health care and social assistance, retail trade, accommodation and food services.

Employment rose by 239 jobs (4.1%) in Lincoln County, and its total payroll grew by $4.2 million (6.4%). Sizeable job gains were seen in construction, accommodation and food services, wholesale trade, other services, and agriculture.

Sublette County saw its employment fall by 414 jobs (-8.4%) and its total payroll decreased by $8.4 million (-11.4%). Job losses occurred in mining (including oil and gas), construction, real estate and rental or leasing, accommodation and food services, and professional, scientific, and technical services.

Teton County added 735 jobs (4.0%) and its total payroll rose $14.0 million (7.8%). The largest job gains were in accommodation and food services, retail trade, construction, administrative, waste services, health care and social assistance, and transportation and warehousing.

Laramie County gained 293 jobs (0.6%) and its total payroll increased by $10.6 million (2.2%). Employment grew in construction, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. Job losses were seen in administrative and waste services, health care & social assistance, local government, and manufacturing.

Albany County added 227 jobs (1.5%) and its total payroll increased by $2.5 million (1.7%). Employment rose in construction, state government, other services, and manufacturing. Job losses were seen in accommodation and food services along with private educational services.

Employment in Natrona County fell by 625 jobs (-1.5%) and its total payroll decreased by $7.8 million (-1.5%). Job losses in mining (including oil ans gas), other services, construction, and manufacturing were partially offset by job gains in transportation & warehousing, health care and social assistance along with retail trade.

Campbell County lost 591 jobs (-2.1%) and its total payroll fell by $12.9 million (-3.2%). The largest job losses occurred in mining (including oil & gas), construction, professional, scientific, technical services, and transportation.

Preview: 3rd Quarter (July – September) 2015 Covered Employment & Wages

According to preliminary data, employment declined in the third quarter. Total payroll fell by $81.7 million (-2.5%), and employment decreased by approximately 3,700 jobs (-1.3%) compared to third quarter 2014. The largest job losses occurred in mining (including oil and gas; approximately 4,500 jobs), construction (approximately 1,100 jobs), professional and technical services (approximately 300 jobs), and real estate and rental or leasing (nearly 300 jobs).

These job losses were partially offset by job gains in retail trade (approximately 1,000 jobs), local government (including public schools, colleges and hospitals; approximately 750 jobs), and accommodation and food services (nearly 500 jobs).

Detailed covered employment and wages data for Third Quarter 2015 are scheduled to be released on May 13, 2016