Wyoming's unemployment rate in may dropped to 4.6 % down from 4.8 % in April. David Bullard, Senior Economist with the Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, says while it is not a statistically significant change, Wyoming's rate remained significantly lower than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 7.6%. Bullard says Seasonally adjusted employment of Wyoming residents increased slightly, rising by 983 individuals (0.3%) from April to May.

Bullard says unemployment rates in all of Wyoming's 23 counties followed their normal pattern and fell from April to May. Typically, job gains are seen in many sectors in May, including construction, professional & business services, leisure & hospitality, and government. The largest unemployment rate decreases occurred in Teton (down from 9.0% to 6.4%), Lincoln (down from 6.8% to 5.3%), and Johnson (down from 6.1% to 4.9%) counties.

The highest unemployment rates were found in Teton (6.4%), Lincoln (5.3%), and Fremont (5.2%) counties. Niobrara County posted the lowest unemployment rate (3.1%). It was followed by Sublette (3.2%), Converse (3.2%), and Albany (3.4%) counties.

Bullard says from May 2012 to May 2013, unemployment rates decreased in every county, possibly suggesting modest improvement in the state’s economy. The largest declines were seen in Teton (down from 9.3% to 6.4%), Lincoln (down from 7.9% to 5.3%), and Laramie (down from 6.0% to 4.5%) counties.

Total nonfarm employment (measured by place of work) fell from 291,600 in May 2012 to 290,700 in May 2013, a decline of 900 jobs (-0.3%).

 

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