State’s unemployment rate holds steady at 2.9%

CASPER (WNE) — Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 2.9% from June to July, the Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported Monday.

While Wyoming’s unemployment rate has remained low, the U.S. unemployment rate has increased in each of the past three months, rising from 3.8% in March to 4.3% in July.

Over the year, unemployment rates were higher than year-ago levels in every county, with most counties ticking up two-tenths of a percentage point or less.

The largest increases were in Big Horn (from 2.7% to 3.3%), Uinta (from 2.8% to 3.4%), and Campbell (from 2.4% to 2.9%) counties. Natrona County’s unemployment rate was down slightly from 3.2% in June to 3.1% in July, but remained higher than its rate of 2.8% from July 2023, R&P reported.

The highest unemployment rates in July were reported in Uinta (3.4%) and Big Horn (3.3%) counties. The lowest unemployment rates were in Teton (1.5%) and Niobrara (1.8%) counties.

Current Employment Statistics estimates show that total nonfarm employment in Wyoming increased by 1,200 jobs (0.4%) over the year.

This story was published on August 20, 2024.