By Staff-Jan. 27, 2015 The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell significantly from 4.5% in November to 4.2% in December (the estimated number of unemployed individuals decreased by 928). Wyoming’s unemployment rate was marginally lower than its December 2013 level of 4.4% and significantly lower than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 5.6%. Seasonally adjusted employment of Wyoming residents increased slightly, rising by an estimated 815 individuals (0.3%) from November to December. Most county unemployment rates changed very little from November to December. The one exception was Teton County, where the unemployment rate fell from 7.9% to 4.8% as the start of the winter tourist season boosted employment. Unemployment also fell in Weston (down from 3.9% to 3.5%), Niobrara (down from 3.3% to 3.0%), and Albany (down from 3.5% to 3.2%) counties. Slight increases in unemployment rates were seen in Crook (up from 3.7% to 4.1%), Johnson (up from 4.5% to 4.8%), Big Horn (up from 4.5% to 4.7%), and Sublette (up from 3.2% to 3.4%) counties. From December 2013 to December 2014, unemployment rates fell in 20 counties, were unchanged in two counties, and increased in Sublette County (up from 3.2% to 3.4%). The largest decreases occurred in Teton (down from 6.4% to 4.8%), Platte (down from 5.1% to 4.0%), and Johnson (down from 5.7% to 4.8%) counties. Converse County had the lowest unemployment rate in December (2.7%). It was followed by Campbell (2.8%), Niobrara (3.0%), and Albany (3.2%) counties. The highest unemployment rates were found in Fremont (5.3%), Lincoln (5.2%), and Park (5.0%) counties. Total nonfarm employment (measured by place of work) rose from 290,000 in December 2013 to 294,300 in December 2014, a gain of 4,300 jobs (1.5%).
