Increase in employment bright spot in Economic Analysis Division report

CHEYENNE (WNE) — Total sales and use tax collections and mining collections have decreased, while total employment continues to increase, according to Wyoming Insight, which serves as an energy index and business indicators report for the state.

Wyoming Insight also reports in this month’s issue that the Henry Hub monthly average natural gas price has stayed above $4/MMBtu; oil prices have decreased.

Total sales and use tax collections in March summed to $62.3 million, $2.7 million less (-4.1%) than March last year.

Collections from the mining sector continue to decline, down $2.3 million (-27.4%) year-over-year. This is the 11th consecutive month that collections from the mining sector have declined year-over-year.

The utilities sector saw the largest increase, up $1.5 million (+51.9%) year-over-year.

Employment in Wyoming totaled 297,000 jobs in February 2025, 3,700 more (+1.3%) than February 2024.

The construction sector added the most jobs in February, up 1,500 jobs year-over-year, followed by leisure & hospitality (+1,000 jobs).

The March 2025 natural gas price at the Henry Hub averaged $4.13 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), $0.10 less than last month, but $2.64 more than March 2024. The Opal Hub natural gas price averaged $2.74/MMBtu in March, $0.69 less than last month, but $1.27 more than March 2024.

The West Texas Intermediate monthly average price for crude oil was $68.24 per bbl. in March, 4.6% less than a month ago and 16% less than March 2024. Average active oil rigs were 14 in March, and the conventional gas rig count was two. At this time last year there were 10 oil rigs and one gas rig.

The March 2025 issue of the Wyoming Insight is available at the state of Wyoming’s Economic Analysis Division website, ai.wyo.gov/divisions/ economic-analysis.

This story was published on April 10, 2025.