There are Wyoming citizens who are old enough to drink but not old enough to remember the last time the number of jobs decreased from the previous year. The Research and Planning Section of the Wyoming Department of Employment reported on Friday that for the first time in 21 years, the number of jobs in Wyoming and total payroll decreased from their year-ago levels.

From first quarter 2008 to first quarter 2009, total unemployment insurance (UI) covered payroll decreased by $36 million (-1.3 percent). UI covered payroll represents approximately 92 percent of all wage and salary disbursements and 45 percent of personal income in the state (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2007). On an over-the-year basis, employment fell by 3,059 jobs (-1.1 percent) and average weekly wage decreased by $1 (-0.1 percent). Job losses were reported in more than half of Wyoming counties. Total payroll is an important economic indicator because it is often associated with consumer spending, retail sales, and sales tax revenue.

Not all counties saw job losses. First-quarter employment increased in nine counties and decreased in 14. Net job losses were much more widespread than in fourth quarter 2008, when employment decreased in four counties.

Campbell County saw 1,017 new jobs or an increase of 3.6 percent, mostly in mining or wholesale trade. Sublette County added 534 jobs, an increase of 10.4 percent, with the bulk of the new jobs in mining (which includes oil and gas). Fremont County squeaked into the plus column by adding 163 jobs, an increase of just 1 percent.