Wages up — Increases seen across sectors

Weston County’s total wages and average weekly wages were up across most public and government sectors in the third quarter of 2024, according to a Feb. 7 press release from the research and planning division of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. The average monthly employment also increased in most areas.

The report says that employment in private ownership overall increased by 44 individuals, or 2.7%, from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. This represents an increase from 1,657 employees in 2023 to 1,701 in 2024.

During the same time period, total wages in the private sector increased by $3,951,242, or 19.8%. This represents an increase from $19,947,615 in total wages in the third quarter of 2023, compared with $23,898,857 in the third quarter of 2024.

Weekly wages for the private sector increased by $155 a week, or 16.7% over the same time period. This represents, according to the report, an increase from $926 a week to $1,081 a week.

A breakdown by industry shows that different areas fared better than others from 2023 to 2024. The largest increases in average monthly employment were construction at 9.2%, or 19 individuals, retail trade at 4.4%, or 14 individuals, and professional and technical services at 21.5%, or 8 individuals.

Both total wages and average weekly wages also increased in all three industries, the report shows.

Construction total wages increased by 22.1%, or $747,741. This represents an increase from $3,377,758 in the third quarter of 2023 to $4,125,499 in the third quarter of 2024. Average weekly wages for construction workers also increased over the same time period from $1,261 to $1,410. This represents an 11.8% increase, or $149.

Professional and technical services also saw a significant increase in both total wages and average weekly wages from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. The report shows that total wages increased by 53.3%, or $184,726, to total $531,459. Average weekly wages increased by 26.2%, or $196.

Retail trade wages also increased in both total and weekly, although not as significantly.

Total wages increased by 5%, or $105,746, to total $2,229,217. Average weekly wages, though, only increased by 0.6%, or $3, to total $514.

Other industries, on the other hand, experienced decreases in some areas and not in others.

Finance and insurance experienced a 12.9% decrease in the average monthly employment in the third quarter of 2024. This represents a loss of seven people, bringing the average monthly employment to 50.

Despite the decrease in employment, total wages and average weekly wages in finance and insurance increased from third quarter 2023 to third quarter 2024. Total wages were up 4.3%, or $37,361, to total $900,651. Average weekly wages increased by 19.7%, or $230, to total $1,395.

Health care and social assistance also experienced a decrease in employment, as well as total wages, while average weekly wages increased. The average monthly employment decreased by 16.3%, or 25 people, bringing the average monthly employment to 130 in the third quarter of 2024. At the same time, total wages decreased by 1.4%, or $19,353, bringing the total to $1,334,678. Average weekly wages, on the other hand, increased by 17.7%, or $119, to total $788.

As for the federal government sector, both average monthly employment and total wages decreased, while the average weekly wages increased. The average monthly employment, according to the report, decreased by 9.6%, or five people, from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. The average monthly employment totals 50 in 2024, the report states. Total wages, the report shows, decreased by 2.6%, or $27,225, to total $1,016,785 in 2024. The average weekly wages increased by 7.7%, or $111, to total $1,554.

State government, according to the report, increased across the board. Average monthly employment increased by 14.2%, or 17 people, to total 134. Total wages increased by 18%, or $328,023, from the third quarter 2023 to third quarter 2024. The total wages for the time is reported to be $2,150,490. The report shows that average weekly wages increased by 3.4%, or $40, to total $1,231.

Local government shows a decrease in the average monthly employment but increases in both total wages and average weekly wages for the third quarter of 2024, according to the report.

The average monthly employment, the report shows, decreased by 5.9%, or 34. This represents a decrease from 570 to 537. At the same time, the total wages increased by 3.8%, or $237,401. Total wages for the third quarter of 2024, the report says, was $6,480,009. Average weekly wages also increased by 10.3%, or $87. This represents an increase from $842 in the third quarter of 2023 to $929 in the third quarter of 2024.

Statewide, total employment grew by 0.8%, or 2,231 jobs, and total wages increased by $300.8 million, or 7.3%.