Wyoming’s Unemployment Rate Up For Third Straight Month

Wyoming's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 5.6% percent in July to 5.7 % in August according to the research & planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. Senior Economist David Bullard says while the increase was not statistically significant, it is the third straight month the unemployment rate has increased in Wyoming. Bullard says the state’s jobless rate remained marginally lower than its year-ago level (6.0%) and significantly lower than the current U. S. unemployment rate (8.1%). Seasonally adjusted employment of Wyoming residents decreased by 720 individuals (-0.2%) from July to August.

Bullard says from July to August,  most county jobless rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and fell slightly. Large unemployment rate decreases were seen in Lincoln (down from 7.1% to 6.4%), Big Horn (down from 6.7% to 6.1%), and Sheridan (down from 6.2% to 5.7%) counties. Bullard says  unemployment increased slightly in Sublette (up from 3.2% to 3.5%) and Park (up from 4.9% to 5.0%) counties. The number of nonfarm jobs in Wyoming (measured by place of work) increased from an estimated 292,900 in august 2011 to 298,400 in august 2012, a gain of 5,500 jobs (1.9%).