Teton County unemployment increases as state rate lowers

The Wyoming labor market continues to slowly grow. The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reports the state’s unemployment rate dropped from 5.4 percent in September to 5.2 percent in October.

Although senior economist David Bullard says that is not a statistically significant change, seasonally adjusted employment of Wyoming residents increased by an estimated 184 individuals over the month.

He said most county unemployment rates decreased slightly. The exception was Teton County, where unemployment rose from 4.4 percent in September to 6.1 percent in October.

Bullard said it is normal for unemployment to increase in Teton County during the September-October time frame as the summer tourist season ends and the ski season is yet to begin. This year’s 6.1 percent rate is well below the 7.8 percent posted in Teton County during the same time frame last year.

Teton County’s jobless rate was the highest in Wyoming, followed by Lincoln County at 5.6 percent. The state’s lowest unemployment rate was found in Sublette County (2.9 percent).