(Fremont County, WY) – The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported today that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 5.2% in July to 4.9% in August.
Fremont County saw a decrease from 4.8% to 4.0% from July to August, down from 6.1% when compared to August of last year.
The total employment number rose from 18,003 to 18,367 from July to August, and is also up when compared to this time last year.
Available data suggests that the statewide August decrease in unemployment was related to individuals dropping out of the labor force.
Wyoming’s unemployment rate was slightly lower than the current U.S. unemployment rate of 5.2% and much lower than its August 2020 level of 6.2%.
From July to August, unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and decreased. The largest unemployment rate decreases occurred in Sweetwater (down from 5.8% to 4.7%), Niobrara (down from 4.0% to 2.9%), Converse (down from 4.9% to 3.9%), and Hot Springs (down from 4.0% to 3.1%) counties.
Unemployment rates fell in every county from August 2020 to August 2021. Jobless rates were elevated in August 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The largest over-the-year decreases were seen in Natrona (down from 9.0% to 5.0%), Campbell (down from 8.4% to 4.6%), Converse (down from 7.5% to 3.9%), and Sweetwater (down from 8.0% to 4.7%) counties.
In August 2021, the highest unemployment rates were found in Natrona County at 5.0%, Sweetwater County at 4.7%, and Campbell County at 4.6%. The lowest rates were reported in Teton County at 2.4%, Weston County at 2.7%, and Crook County at 2.8%.
Total nonfarm employment in Wyoming (not seasonally adjusted and measured by place of work) rose from 274,900 in August 2020 to 280,400 in August 2021, an increase of 5,500 jobs (2.0%). Nonfarm employment was unusually low in August 2020 because of economic disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.