After suffering large job losses in much of 2020, Wyoming’s economy returned to recovery mode in third quarter 2021. From third quarter 2020 to third quarter 2021, Wyoming added 8,967 jobs (3.4%) and total payroll rose by $312.4 million (9.8%). Despite the robust pace of job growth in third quarter 2021, the total number of jobs has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Total employment in third quarter 2021 was down approximately 12,700 jobs from third quarter 2019.
In third quarter 2021, the largest job growth occurred in leisure & hospitality (4,632 jobs, or 12.9%) and professional & business services (1,544 jobs, or 8.3%). Smaller job gains were seen in local government (597 jobs, or 1.5%), retail trade (500 jobs, or 1.7%), manufacturing (469 jobs, or 5.0%), and construction (463 jobs, or 2.1%). Job losses occurred in federal government (-419 jobs, or -4.9%), state government (-204 jobs, or -1.6%), and health care & social assistance (-114 jobs, or -0.5%). Employment grew in 18 of Wyoming’s 23 counties.
Teton County added 2,996 jobs (14.4%) and its total payroll rose by $93.7 million (33.3%). Large job gains were seen in accommodation & food services; local government; arts, entertainment, & recreation; professional & technical services; real estate & rental & leasing; administrative & waste services; and construction.
Laramie County gained 1,128 jobs (2.5%) and its total payroll increased by $63.6 million (11.2%). Construction added 446 jobs and smaller job gains were seen in accommodation & food services, transportation & warehousing, administrative & waste services, and local government.
Employment in Natrona County grew by 1,084 jobs (3.0%) and its total payroll rose by $37.9 million (8.7%). Large job gains were seen in accommodation & food services; construction; transportation & warehousing; local government; administrative & waste services; and arts, entertainment, & recreation. Sizeable job losses occurred in health care & social assistance and federal government.
Park County added 810 jobs (5.8%) and its total payroll increased by $12.8 million (8.7%). Employment in accommodation & food services rose by nearly 500 jobs, and smaller job gains were seen in retail trade, administrative & waste services, and professional & technical services. Some job losses were seen in construction and mining (including oil & gas).
Albany County gained 677 jobs (4.4%) and its total payroll rose by $12.6 million (7.3%). Job growth occurred in accommodation & food services, state government, professional & technical services, retail trade, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing.
Employment in Fremont County rose by 540 jobs (3.7%) and its total payroll grew by $10.9 million (7.1%). The largest job gains occurred in local government, but growth was also seen in accommodation & food services, private educational services, and manufacturing. Employment fell in health care & social assistance, federal government, and state government.
Sheridan County added 336 jobs (2.5%) and its total payroll rose by $15.5 million (10.3%). Job gains were seen in accommodation & food services, manufacturing, and professional & technical services.
Visit our website for detailed tables for each county.
Employment and wages data for fourth quarter 2021 are scheduled to be released on May 6, 2022.