While 2022 wasn’t a return to pre-pandemic numbers, jobs were gained in many Wyoming industries in the last year – with mining and tourism-adjacent jobs leading the way.
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services analyzed employment trends between 2021 and 2022. From the third quarter of 2021 to the third quarter of 2022, Wyoming added 5,955 jobs (2.2%), and total payroll rose by $396.7 million (11.3%).
Despite the recent job growth, employment has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels. Total employment in 2022 was down approximately 6,500 jobs from the same time in 2019.
In the third quarter of 2022, the most significant job growth occurred in these five industries:
- Mining (including oil & gas; 1,574 jobs, or 10.5%)
- Leisure & hospitality (1,232 jobs, or 3.0%)
- Professional & business services (838 jobs, or 4.1%)
- Retail trade (721 jobs, or 2.4%)
- Local government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals; 584 jobs, or 1.4%).
Meanwhile, job losses were seen in state government (-283 jobs, or –2.3%), construction (-212 jobs, or -0.9%), and agriculture (-70 jobs, or –2.3%.)
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Over the same duration, employment rose in 17 of Wyoming’s 23 counties.
Teton County
- Gained 1,581 jobs (6.6%)
- Total payroll rose by $37.5 million (9.9%)
Leisure & hospitality gained nearly 800 jobs. Smaller job gains were seen in construction, retail trade, local government, professional & business services, and financial activities.
Natrona County
- Gained 1,437 jobs (3.9%)
- Total payroll increased by $70.4 million (14.8%)
Robust job gains occurred in mining (including oil & gas, 485 jobs). Notable increases were also seen in wholesale trade, financial activities, manufacturing, professional & business services, and transportation & warehousing.
Campbell County
- Gained 1,292 jobs (5.6%)
- Total payroll rose by $59.2 million (17.7%)
Mining (including oil & gas) added more than 650 jobs. Solid job growth also occurred in wholesale trade, construction, professional & business services, health care & social assistance, leisure & hospitality, and retail trade.
Sweetwater County
- Gained 672 jobs (3.4%)
- Total payroll grew by $39.5 million (13.6%)
Employment in the construction sector increased by more than 450 jobs, and smaller job gains were seen in manufacturing, retail trade, and transportation & warehousing.
Sheridan County
- Gained 382 jobs (2.8%)
- Total payroll grew by $22.1 million (13.5%).
Employment rose in construction, professional & business services, local government, manufacturing, and financial activities.
Albany County
- Gained 342 jobs (2.1%)
- Total payroll increased by $16.5 million (8.9%).
Modest job gains were seen in many sectors, including health care & social assistance, private educational services, retail trade, leisure & hospitality, transportation & warehousing, and financial activities.
Employment in Laramie County fell by 442 jobs (-0.9%), but its total payroll grew by $39.0 million (6.2%). Significant job losses in construction and, transportation & warehousing more than offset job gains in wholesale trade, retail trade, manufacturing, and professional & business services.
Unfortunately, Carbon County lost 627 jobs (-8.5%), and its total payroll fell by $4.3 million (-4.5%). The construction sector accounted for a large part of the overall job losses. Employment also decreased in federal, state, and local governments.
Employment and wages data for the fourth quarter of 2022 are scheduled to be published on May 5, 2023.
