Counties with the highest unemployment in Wyoming
The first jobs report under the new Trump administration showed a stable job market, with the unemployment rate ticking down from 4.1% to 4% in January, the lowest since last May, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released Feb. 7.
The report marks 49 consecutive months of overall job growth, the second-longest recorded period since 1939.
Job losses that did occur were concentrated in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industries, which declined by 8,000 jobs over the month. There was little change in employment in other major industries.
To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates Wyoming, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in December 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Key takeaways: Jobs report reveals cooling labor market
January's job growth of 143,000 fell short of expectations, while the downward revision of 589,000 fewer jobs in 2024 suggests the labor market was weaker last year than initially thought.
Business leaders are starting to display more caution, with 67% of executives reporting higher stress levels heading into 2025, according to a survey of 1,000 executives by Sentry, a business insurance company. Among survey respondents, 47% citing economic uncertainty as their biggest concern.
"We have what I would describe as a robust but frozen labor market," Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, told The New York Times, noting that while unemployment remains low, there's very little churn or employee turnover as "businesses are being cautious as to how they manage their work force."
Moody's Analytics projects monthly payroll gains could slow to around 100,000 by year-end.
The big story: Potential for economic headwinds grows
Behind the "Now Hiring" signs and modest unemployment rate, there's growing concern on Main Street that the economy might be more fragile than it appears.
"You've already got companies hiring as if they're in a recession—even if they're not laying people off," Oliver Allen, senior U.S. economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, told CNN. Average unemployment duration, a lagging indicator, rose from 20.8 weeks in January 2024 to 22 in January of this year.
Tightening trade regulations and federal trimming could also have an impact on the job market. Experts predict the U.S. gross domestic product could take a hit due to increased tariffs. The U.S. government is the country's largest employer and contributes 36% to the GDP.
Sudden cuts to federal spending advocated by the new administration could hit the economy hard. One example of the potential fallout is that if prices were to increase further due to higher tariffs, consumer purchasing power would decline, stymieing economic growth.
Whether the effects of slashing the workforce and the budget will be exceeded by Trump's plans to loosen business regulations and cut taxes remains to be seen.
To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Wyoming.
21. Weston County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,815 people (115 unemployed)
21. Converse County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,943 people (235 unemployed)
21. Teton County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3%
--- 1-month change: -1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,839 people (503 unemployed)
20. Albany County
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,362 people (697 unemployed)
19. Crook County
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,758 people (121 unemployed)
18. Johnson County
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: 0.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,135 people (138 unemployed)
17. Sheridan County
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,332 people (561 unemployed)
14. Campbell County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 23,044 people (798 unemployed)
14. Goshen County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,170 people (217 unemployed)
14. Lincoln County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,005 people (354 unemployed)
13. Niobrara County
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,111 people (40 unemployed)
12. Laramie County
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 49,857 people (1,827 unemployed)
9. Natrona County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 40,094 people (1,573 unemployed)
9. Hot Springs County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,229 people (88 unemployed)
9. Park County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,161 people (590 unemployed)
6. Platte County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 4,180 people (168 unemployed)
6. Washakie County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,733 people (149 unemployed)
6. Carbon County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,930 people (277 unemployed)
4. Uinta County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,091 people (381 unemployed)
4. Fremont County (tie)
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 18,962 people (792 unemployed)
3. Sweetwater County
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,136 people (861 unemployed)
2. Big Horn County
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,085 people (223 unemployed)
1. Sublette County
December unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,753 people (175 unemployed)
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Ben Popken, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
