Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
In the space of a year, Crook County has added almost 100 jobs to its economy, a 3.5% increase in employment opportunity, according to figures released by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services in its quarterly census of employment.
The data spans the second quarter of 2021 to the second quarter of 2022 and shows that, during those 12 months, the total number of jobs rose by 91, much of it within private industry.
Total wages within Crook County also rose over that time by 11.5%, or $3,471,400, now sitting at $33,747,862. The average weekly wage in this county increased by 7.7% from $908 to $977.
The sectors in which the most total jobs were added include 32 new roles within the mining industry, including oil and gas; 14 jobs in administrative and waste services; 13 new jobs in professional and technical services; ten jobs in transportation and warehousing (postal service); eight jobs in entertainment and recreation; and seven jobs in accommodation and food services.
The latter of those categories actually saw 19 new jobs added to food services and drinking places, but this was offset by a loss of 13 jobs in accommodation services.
A number of sectors, however, did see job numbers reduce over the year.
A total of nine jobs were lost in the forestry and logging industry, for example, as well as five in state government; five in state government public administration; and four in finance and insurance.
Crook County’s job increase outstripped the state average of 1.9% during the one-year period in question, although the total payroll increase of 8.3% statewide was a little higher than the local value.
The largest job growth in Wyoming occurred in Teton County, which increased its total number of jobs by 5.6%, or 1158, and in Campbell County, which added 1266 jobs, or 5.5%. Some counties also experienced a decrease, including 97 jobs in Washakie County, or 2.7% (although its payroll increased by 2.5%, or $10 million), and 112 jobs in Big Horn County, or 2.6% (although, again, payroll increased by 3.2%, or $1.5 million).
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services notes that the numbers are still skewed somewhat by the impact of the pandemic. According to a statement from the department, “Despite the recent job growth, employment has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels. Total employment in second quarter 2022 was down approximately 6300 jobs from second quarter 2019.”
