Unemployment still lowest

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Weston County’s unemployed labor force, at 89, is one of only three in the state below 100 people. At 2.3%, the county’s unemployment rate also continued to be the lowest in the state throughout November. Weston County’s rate fell during the month, unlike in most counties, which see an “increase in rates due to the colder weather bringing season job losses in leisure and hospitality, construction and professional and business services,” according to the Dec. 23 report from the Research and Planning sector of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. 
According to the report, only three counties had a decrease in their unemployment rate, five stayed the same, and 15 counties within the state saw their unemployment rates increase.
“Unemployment rates fell slightly in Campbell (down 3.4% to 3.1%), Washakie (down from 3.4% to 2.3%) and Weston (down from 2.4% to 2.3%) counties,” the report says. “The largest increases in unemployment were seen in Teton (up from 2.7% to 5.2%), Park (up from 3.5% to 4.2%) and Sweetwater (up from 3.3% to 4.0%) counties.” 
Statewide, the unemployment rate was 3.6% in November, up from 3.3% in October, and the national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3% over the same period. Both the state and national unemployment rates – 4.0% and 3.5%, respectively, were lower than they were in November 2018, as did most of the counties in Wyoming. 
“From November 2018 to November 2019, unemployment rates fell in 17 counties, rose in three counties, and remained unchanged in three counties,” the report says. “The largest decreases occurred in Teton (down from 6.2% to 5.2), Weston (down from 3.1% to 2.3%), Fremont (down from 4.8% to 4.1%), and Campbell (down from 3.8% to 3.1% counties. Slight increases were seen in Goshen (up from 2.3% to 3.6%), Niobrara (up from 2.5% to 3.1%) and Sublette (up from 4.2% to 4.7%) counties.”