State loses 505 jobs, but total payroll increases

CASPER (WNE) — Wyoming employers had 505 fewer jobs in the first quarter of 2026 than a year earlier, but total payroll increased by $233 million, according to new state employment figures.

The figures, released by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services' Research & Planning section, show statewide employment declined 0.2% from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026. Total payroll, meanwhile, climbed 5.4%.

The county numbers were mixed. Employment increased in nine of Wyoming's 23 counties and fell in 14. Payroll increased in 18 counties and declined in five.

Sheridan County led the counties highlighted in the report in job growth, adding 378 jobs, a 2.7% increase. Its total payroll rose by $43.4 million, or 20.7%.

Construction drove most of the employment gain, adding 365 jobs. Smaller increases occurred in professional and technical services, wholesale trade, and agriculture. Employment declined in federal government, administrative and waste services, and health care and social assistance.

Albany County added 282 jobs, a 1.7% increase, while payroll grew by $15 million, or 6.7%. The largest employment gains occurred in health care and social assistance, administrative and waste services, construction, and information.

Converse County added 245 jobs, a 3.9% increase, and saw payroll rise by $10.1 million, or 9.5%. Construction, health care and social assistance and local government added jobs. Employment fell in accommodation and food services and professional and technical services.

Campbell County employment increased by 181 jobs, or 0.7%, while payroll rose by $11.6 million, or 2.7%. Health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, construction, and administrative and waste services recorded the largest gains. Mining, including oil and gas, wholesale trade, and retail trade lost jobs.

Some of the state's largest employment declines occurred in southwest Wyoming.

Sweetwater County lost 443 jobs, a 2.2% decrease, and payroll fell by $6 million, or 1.7%. Mining, including oil and gas, recorded substantial losses, along with construction, retail trade, manufacturing, and transportation and warehousing. Job gains in professional and technical services partly offset the declines.

Sublette County lost 208 jobs, a 5.6% drop, while payroll decreased by $4 million, or 6.2%. Mining, including oil and gas, accounted for some of the largest losses. Other declines occurred in arts, entertainment and recreation; administrative and waste services; and local government, including public schools. Construction added jobs.

Fremont County had 177 fewer jobs, a 1.2% decline, but payroll increased by $4.7 million, or 2.4%. The largest employment losses occurred in local government, including public schools and colleges, and federal government.

Teton County also had fewer jobs but a substantially larger payroll. Employment fell by 154 jobs, or 0.7%, while total payroll increased by $68.7 million, or 13.4%.

Crook County lost 98 jobs, a 3.9% decline, and payroll decreased by $418,330, or 1.1%. Mining and construction accounted for the largest employment losses.

This story was published on Nov. 10, 2026. 

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