CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Some businesses in the growing Wyoming economy are having a hard time finding workers and must pay higher wages to attract and keep the ones that are hired.

Officials say the Great Recession resulted in thousands of jobs being lost in the state, particularly in the energy extraction and construction sectors. Many of those workers moved to other states in search of jobs.

However, as the Wyoming economy improves, some companies are looking to expand or move to the state with a low unemployment rate and the fewest residents in the nation.

Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Director Joan Evans says businesses are seeing shortages in a variety of different areas.

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