Report: Wyoming Lost 16K Jobs Over One-Year Period

Wyoming lost more than 16,000 jobs in 2020, according to a new state Department of Workforce Services report, due largely to the coronavirus pandemic.

EF
Ellen Fike

August 06, 20213 min read

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Wyoming lost more than 16,000 jobs in 2020, according to a new state Department of Workforce Services report, due largely to the coronavirus pandemic.

The department’s quarterly report on the state’s economic indicators showed that from the fourth quarter of 2019 to the fourth quarter of 2020, Wyoming lost 16,273 jobs, a 5.9% loss, and total payroll fell by $58.4 million, a 1.6% loss.

The largest job losses occurred in mining, including oil and gas, which saw a decrease of 5,923 jobs, the leisure and and hospitality industry, which lost 3,159 jobs, and construction, which had a loss of 2,786 jobs.

Other losses were seen in local government employment, including public schools, colleges and hospitals, which saw a loss of 1,257 jobs, wholesale trade, where 1,036 jobs were lost, professional and business services, which saw a loss of 501 jobs, and manufacturing, which had a loss of 489 jobs.

However, the state’s retail trade employment rose by 627 jobs in the same period.

Job losses were seen in 17 of Wyoming’s 23 counties.

Natrona County lost 3,382 jobs (an 8.5% decrease) and its total payroll fell by $53.5 million, a 9.7% decrease, with the largest declines coming in mining, wholesale trade, construction, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing and other services.

Campbell County’s employment fell by 2,533 jobs, a 10% decrease, and its total payroll decreased by $54.6 million, a 13.5% decrease. Mining in the county lost more than 1,300 jobs and smaller job losses were seen in wholesale trade, local government, construction, professional and business services, transportation and warehousing and leisure and hospitality.

Converse County lost 2,015 jobs, a 26.1% decrease, and its total payroll fell by $39.4 million, a 32% decrease. The county’s construction sector accounted for approximately half of the job losses. County employment also fell in mining, professional and business services and transportation and warehousing.

Employment in Sweetwater County fell by 2,006 jobs, a 9.1% decline, and its total payroll decreased by $34.6 million or 10.2%. Sizeable job losses occurred in mining, construction, transportation & warehousing, local government, leisure & hospitality, and wholesale trade.

Laramie County lost 1,455 jobs, a 3.1% decrease, but its total payroll grew by $21.6 million, a 3.6% increase. Large job losses were seen in leisure & hospitality, mining (including oil & gas), local government, manufacturing, information, and construction.

Teton County’s employment fell by 1,034 jobs, a 5.2% decrease, but its total payroll increased by $79.7 million, or 27.7%. Its leisure & hospitality industry lost more than 900 jobs and retail trade lost more than 150 jobs. However, gains were seen in construction, financial activities and professional and business services.

Lincoln County added 103 jobs, a 1.6% increase, and its total payroll increased by $9.8 million, or 12%.

Job losses continued into the first quarter of 2021, according to preliminary data, as employment fell from the first quarter of 2020 by approximately 14,500 jobs, a 5.4% decrease, and total payroll fell by $197.6 million, a 5.9% decrease.

Large job losses were seen in mining, approximately 5,500 jobs, leisure and hospitality (approximately 2,800 jobs), construction (approximately 2,500 jobs), local government (including public schools, colleges, & hospitals; approximately 1,300 jobs), and wholesale trade (approximately 1,000 jobs).

However, continuing its trend from 2020, retail trade added more than 700 jobs.

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Ellen Fike

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