The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 3.7% in August to 3.8% in September. It remained lower than its September 2018 level of 4.2%, but was slightly higher than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 3.5%. Wyoming’s labor force (the sum of all employed and unemployed individuals) was essentially unchanged from a year earlier (a decrease of 75 individuals or 0.0%).
Most county unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and fell from August to September. The largest decreases occurred in Campbell County, where unemployment fell from 4.5% to 3.9%; Platte County, where unemployment fell from 3.6% to 3.1%; Goshen County, where unemployment fell from 3.7% to 3.4%; and Crook County, where unemployment fell from 3.1% to 2.8%.
From September 2018 to September 2019, unemployment fell in almost every county. Large decreases were seen in Uinta (down from 4.2% to 3.5%), Natrona (down from 4.4% to 3.7%), Weston (down from 3.3% to 2.7%), Sweetwater (down from 4.0% to 3.4%), Niobrara (down from 3.1% to 2.5%), Fremont (down from 4.5% to 3.9%), and Converse (down from 3.4% to 2.8%) counties. Goshen County’s jobless rate rose from 3.0% in September 2018 to 3.4% in September 2019.
The highest unemployment rates occurred in Campbell and Fremont counties (both at 3.9%). The lowest rates were found in Teton County at 2.0%, Niobrara County at 2.5%, and Weston County at 2.7%.
Total nonfarm employment in Wyoming (not seasonally adjusted and measured by place of work) increased from 291,400 in September 2018 to 294,100 in September 2019, a gain of 2,700 jobs (0.9%).
Research & Planning has scheduled the October unemployment news release for November 19, 2019.