Unemployment still dropping

Alexis Barker
NLJ Reporter
 
Weston County’s unemployment rate continues to drop, according to a report from the Research and Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.  The report, released on Nov. 20 also shows that the county continues to have unemployment rates that are lower than both national and state rates. 
The report states that the statewide unemployment rate dropped slightly from 3.7 percent in September to 3.5 percent in October, although seasonally adjusted rates remain at 4.1 percent. The national unemployment rate, according to the same report, dropped slightly from 3.6 percent to 3.5 percent from September to October.  
Weston County experienced a 0.3 percent decrease from September to October, dropping from 3.4 percent to 3.1 percent. In October 2017, the county’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent. 
“Unemployment rates were lower than a year ago in most Wyoming counties. The largest decreases occurred in Converse (down from 3.9 percent to 3.1 percent), Weston (down from 3.6 percent to 3.1 percent), Sweetwater (down from 4.0 percent to 3.5 percent, and Platte (down from 3.3 percent to 2.8 percent),” the report states. 
A breakdown of workforce numbers provided by the state shows that the total labor force in Weston County has increased from 3,704 in September to 3,715 in October. However, the labor force is still down from October 2017, when it was 3,734. 
The number of employed in the county is unchanged from October 2017 and remains at 3,601. The number employed in September of this year was 3,577. 
According to state figures, the number of unemployed people in the county dropped from 127 in September to 114 in October. In October 2017, a total of 133 individuals were unemployed in Weston County. 
Crook, Niobrara and Platte counties all experienced decreases in unemployment rates as well at 0.1 percent, 0.6 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively.