Wyoming Energy Struggles Drive Up March Unemployment

The March Wyoming unemployment report confirms what everybody already knows about the impact of low energy prices on Wyoming's economy, according to a Senior State Economist.

David Bullard says the overall jobless rate in the cowboy state increased from 5 percent in February to 5.2 percent in March.

The news is even worse in a year-over year-comparison, jumping 1.3 percent last month from the March 2015 jobless rate of 3.9 percent

Bullard says the state's major energy producing counties are being especially hard hit in the latest report. That includes Sublette County (7.5 percent unemployment in March), Natrona County (7.3 percent) and Campbell County (7.1 percent).

By contrast, counties such as Albany (3.2 percent) and Teton (3.5 percent), where energy production isn't a dominant factor in the economy had some of the lowest jobless rates.

Laramie County's jobless rate was 4.4 percent last month, down from 4.5 percent in February. Bullard says that reflects the fact that while Laramie County has had some energy development in recent years, it's economy is largely based on government, which he says ''tends to be more stable."

You can see the full report by clicking here.