Wyoming’s unemployment rate remained steady in March from February as seasonal jobs began to increase around the state.
The Research and Planning Section of the state’s Department of Workforce Services reported Monday the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March was 5.3%, the same level seen in February and almost a full percentage point below the national average of 6%.
The rate meant that of Wyoming’s labor force of 294,787, 17,370 were seeking jobs.
March’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was slightly higher than the rate for March of 2020 of 5.1%. Wyoming’s unemployment rate increased sharply after March of last year as businesses closed as the result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate takes into account regularly recurring events such as major holidays and the opening and closing of schools to even out the changes in the rate.
The unadjusted unemployment rate for March was 5.9%, a decline from the rate of 6.5% seen in February.
The decline was largely the result of seasonal employment changes, the report said.
“Jobless rates often decrease in March as warmer weather brings seasonal job gains in construction, leisure and hospitality, government and other sectors,” the report said.
The unadjusted unemployment rate fell in every county from February to March, the report said, with Sublette County posting the steepest decline, from 8.9% to 7.7%, followed by Converse County, which saw its rate drop from 7.5% to 6.3%.
The highest unemployment rate for March was found in Natrona County, 7.9%, while Weston County had the lowest rate at 4.1%.
