This section covers the expected increase in population and labor force, along with the factors influencing the labor supply. It also covers the number of individuals living in Wyoming that are employed and unemployed over the forecast horizon. Slow and steady population growth is expected throughout the ten-year forecast period. Total population in Wyoming is expected to increase less than 2,200 persons per year with an annual growth rate of approximately 0.5 percent. However, net out-migration is reduced to 700 persons in 1999 and averages approximately 300 each year for the remainder of the forecast period.
Labor force is the sum of the number of employed and unemployed persons.
Labor force levels are expected to rise from an estimated 260,870 in 1999 to a projected 280,530 in 2008. This represents an increase of 19,660 individuals who are either working or available and looking for work. The number of persons employed in Wyoming is forecast to increase by 6.3 percent from 1999 to 2008, reaching 264,460 persons. The number of unemployed persons in Wyoming is expected to increase by almost one-third from 12,080 in 1999 to 16,070 in 2008. The unemployment rate is expected to rise slowly from 4.6 percent in 1999 to 5.7 percent in 2008.