Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Unemployment rate
1990–2024BLS state series. Spikes track energy busts.
Wyoming Employment
Wyoming's labor market includes roughly 295,000 employed workers as of 2024, supported by energy, government, and tourism sectors.
Total nonfarm payroll jobs
1990–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED WYNA).
| Indicator | Wyoming | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Employed workers | 295000 | 161000000 |
- •Wyoming's small population means its total employment is the lowest of any U.S. state.
- •Government employment (federal, state, tribal) makes up an outsized share of jobs due to vast public lands.
- •Seasonal tourism jobs peak sharply during summer near Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
Wyoming Unemployment Rate
Wyoming's unemployment rate was 3.1% in 2024, below the national average and reflecting a historically tight labor market.
Unemployment rate
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average of seasonally adjusted months (FRED WYUR).
| Indicator | Wyoming | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.1 | 4 |
- •Wyoming's unemployment rate has consistently stayed below the national average in recent years.
- •Energy sector layoffs during commodity downturns can cause localized spikes in unemployment.
- •Low population density keeps labor markets tight in most Wyoming counties.
Wyoming Labor Force
Wyoming's civilian labor force totals about 308,000 people, one of the smallest of any state given its population of under 600,000.
Civilian labor force
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average (FRED WYLF).
| Indicator | Wyoming | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Labor force size | 308000 | 168000000 |
- •Wyoming has the smallest labor force of any U.S. state in absolute numbers.
- •Labor force participation remains relatively strong at 64.8% despite the state's older median age.
- •Out-migration of young workers to larger metro areas is a long-standing demographic challenge.
Wyoming Occupations
Wyoming's job market is anchored by mining and extraction, government, healthcare, and tourism-related occupations.
Workers in management, business, science and arts occupations
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, civilian employed 16+, C24010 (2020 not released).
- •Mining and extraction occupations in Wyoming pay some of the highest average wages in the state.
- •Government jobs make up a larger share of Wyoming's workforce than in most states, due to federal land management.
- •Tourism-related occupations surge seasonally around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Wyoming Salaries
The median annual wage in Wyoming is about $50,400, supported by high-paying energy and mining jobs despite the state's otherwise rural economy.
Average weekly earnings, private sector
2007–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED SMU56000000500000011).
Average hourly earnings, private sector
2007–2025BLS Current Employment Statistics, annual average (FRED SMU56000000500000003).
| Indicator | Wyoming | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage ($) | 50400 | 48060 |
- •Mining and energy-extraction jobs in Wyoming pay significantly above the state's median wage.
- •Wyoming has no state income tax, boosting effective take-home pay relative to nominal wages.
- •Union membership in Wyoming is around 6.2%, below the national average.
Wyoming Remote Work
Approximately 10% of Wyoming workers are primarily remote, a lower share than the national average, reflecting the state's resource-extraction and in-person service economy.
Workers who work from home
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of workers 16+, B08301 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Wyoming | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Remote work share (%) | 10 | 13.8 |
- •Wyoming's remote-work share trails the national average due to its concentration of energy, agriculture, and tourism jobs.
- •Jackson Hole has attracted a growing number of remote professionals drawn by lifestyle and no state income tax.
- •Rural broadband gaps in parts of Wyoming limit remote-work adoption statewide.
Wyoming Workforce Participation
Wyoming's labor force participation rate is 64.8%, higher than the national average despite the state's aging population.
Labor force participation rate
1976–2024BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average (FRED LBSSA56).
| Indicator | Wyoming | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Labor force participation (%) | 64.8 | 62.5 |
- •Wyoming's participation rate outpaces the national average despite 18.6% of residents being 65 or older.
- •Strong energy-sector wages help draw workers into the labor force.
- •Limited childcare access in rural areas can suppress participation among some demographics.