"Statewide labor force increased by 2,473 individuals or 0.9 percent from September 1999 to September 2000."	
Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 4.3 percent in August to 4.4 percent in September (not a statistically significant change). At the same time, the U.S. unemployment rate fell from 4.1 percent to 3.9 percent. Compared with September 1999, Wyoming gained 3,200 jobs, giving the state an employment growth rate of 1.3 percent. U.S. employment growth held steady at 1.9 percent.
Job gains were seen in many industries in September. The largest gains occurred in Retail Trade (800 jobs or 1.7%) and Services (800 jobs or 1.4%). The Construction industry added 700 jobs or 3.6 percent and Government employment increased by 600 jobs or 1.0 percent. Employment increased in oil & gas extraction (300 jobs or 3.6%) but fell in coal mining (200 jobs or 4.3%). Manufacturing employment decreased slightly, falling by 200 jobs or 1.8 percent.
Wyoming’s two metropolitan areas, Casper and Cheyenne, both experienced faster employment growth than the state. Laramie County added 800 jobs or 2.2 percent in September, with half of the new jobs in Retail Trade. Job gains in the Services industry helped push up employment in Natrona County by 500 jobs or 1.6 percent.
Statewide labor force increased by 2,473 individuals or 0.9 percent from September 1999 to September 2000. The number of unemployed declined by 691 or 6.8 percent during the same period.
Uinta County’s unemployment rate in September (5.8%) was the highest in the state, and was unchanged from September 1999. Teton County’s unemployment rate of 1.1 percent was the lowest in the state. The unemployment rate in Weston County increased from 3.5 percent in August to 4.7 percent in September as the result of the closure of a sawmill in Newcastle (Gillette News Record, July 2, 2000).