CHEYENNE — Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 5.9 percent in June to 6.5 percent in July, the highest level since March 1989. Nationally, the U.S. unemployment rate decreased slightly, from 9.5 percent in June to 9.4 percent in July, but remained much higher than the July 2008 level of 5.8 percent. In Wyoming, job losses continued as employment decreased 2.9 percent from June to July, or by 8,900 jobs. The number of unemployed people in Wyoming this July was estimated at 17,624, more than twice the number unemployed last July (8,518). From June to July employment decreased by 0.9 percent of 2,800 jobs, which is consistent with normal seasonal patterns. Seasonal job gains in construction (300 jobs), retail trade (500 jobs), professional and business services (300 jobs) educational and health services (200 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (2,000 jobs) were more than offset by job losses in government (-6,400). Government job losses were primarily the result of public schools closing for the summer. Statewide, the highest unemployment rates were found in Big Horn County (7.9 percent), Fremont County (7.7 percent) and Lincoln County (7.1 percent). In every county unemployment rates were higher this July than they were last July.

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