Big Horn County’s unemployment rate crept up from 8.4 percent in November of 2009 to 8.8 percent in December of 2009, putting the county at slightly double the unemployment rate observed in December of 2008 at 4.3 percent.

Big Horn County no longer leads the state in unemployment, with Johnson County (9.3 percent) and Teton County (9 percent) surpassing Big Horn County and Lincoln County tying at 8.8 percent. 

Sublette County posted the lowest unemployment rate (4.5 percent) followed by Albany (4.6 percent) and Goshen (5.9 percent) counties.

The numbers were released last month by the Research and Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Employment. The department reported recently that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 7.2 percent in November to 7.5 percent in December (not a statistically significant change).

Despite the increase, Wyoming’s unemployment rate remained significantly lower than the U.S. rate of 10 percent. Over-the-year job losses were seen in all but two sectors (educational and health services and government).

Over the year, employment decreased by 20,600 jobs, or 6.9 percent. Construction (-6,800 jobs, or –24.8 percent) and natural resources and mining (including oil and gas; -5,800 jobs, or -19.2 percent) posted the largest job losses. Notable job losses were also seen in manufacturing (-700 jobs, or –7.1 percent), wholesale trade (-700 jobs, or –7.6 percent), retail trade (-2,000 jobs, or -6.0 percent), transportation and utilities (-800 jobs, or –5.3 percent), professional and business services (-1,700 jobs, or –9.4 percent), leisure and hospitality (-1,800 jobs, or –5.5 percent), and other services (-1,200 jobs, or –9.8 percent). Employment increased in educational and health services (900 jobs, or 3.6 percent) and government (including public schools, colleges, and hospitals; 800 jobs, or 1.1 percent).

From November to December Wyoming lost 1,600 jobs, or 0.6 percent. This stands in contrast to the normal seasonal increase of approximately 1,200 jobs, or 0.4 percent. Larger than normal seasonal employment decreases were seen in construction (-3,100 jobs, or –13.1 percent) and professional and business services (-700 jobs, or –4.1 percent). Seasonal employment gains occurred in retail trade (400 jobs, or 1.3 percent), leisure and hospitality (1,700 jobs, or 5.8 percent), and government (300 jobs, or 0.4 percent).