Wyoming Unemployment Down

Unemployment rates in Wyoming have fallen in the last year.

Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 5.3% last February to 4.7% last month.

From January to February, most county unemployment rates followed their normal seasonal pattern and decreased slightly. Locally, Big Horn county went down from 5.4% to 4.7% just last month – but decreased even more when compared to last year at the same time, from 6.2% a year ago. Park County moved from 6.4 percent to 5.7 percent in the last year.

Kari Walker with Wyoming Workforce Services attributes the drop in state unemployment rates to the uptick in the oil and gas industries, but points out that locally, she has seen an increase in the use of their resources to put people to work. Just last week, job fairs were held in Powell and Cody that drew over 300 people who were looking for employment, and dozens of businesses looking to hire. Walker says there is a definite indication that Wyoming employers are looking for innovative ways to create jobs.

Walker points out that Wyoming Workforce Services offers a number of resources to help put people to work. Resume services, building cover letters, providing mock interview opportunities, and interview coaching are all free resources for job seekers to utilize. Additionally, she says businesses can register for free for the Wyoming At Work program, and Workforce Services staff can help screen applicants as well as promote and list available jobs.