Gas Field Workforce Requirements Table
Unemployment: An all-time low.

In recent years, Sublette County has
maintained one of the lowest
unemployment rates in the nation.
According to the Wyoming Department of
Employment, Research & Planning, Sublette
County posted an unemployment rate of
1.7% at for the end of July  2007, which is
tied for an all-time county low.

Across both the state and nation, levels of
unemployment typically increase during
winter months, however Sublette County’s
level of unemployment actually dropped
from about 2.0% this summer.

--No More Fluctuations--

Unemployment rates in Sublette County
have traditionally fluctuated greatly
depending on the season. In the last two
years, however, these fluctuations have
effectively stopped.  (Please see graph at
the upper right, and click to enlarge). The
county’s natural gas development has not
only created winter-time job opportunities
in the gas industry, but has also likely
attracted employees from other sectors and
thus created employment opportunities in
those sectors. In addition, growth in
Sublette County’s housing stock has
provided additional opportunities for
winter-time work.

Unemployment rates are typically figured
by measuring the number of people seeking
unemployment benefits verses the overall
available workforce.
So, How many out of town workers are there in Sublette County?
Pipeline Workers in the Jonah Field -- Photo by Brian Hall
Sublette County Wage Study

Over 60 employers from Sublette County contributed
wage information to the study. Download the study
here. (Click Wage Table at Right to Enlarge).

Findings include:

  • Minimum wage for non-skilled, non-labor
    intensive jobs starts at about $9/hr in Sublette
    County. Wyoming's average is about  $7/hr.  

  • Minimum wage for non-skilled gas field jobs
    starts at about 14/hr. Construction jobs start at
    about $12/hr.

  • Rig hands start at about $24/hr.    

  • Seasonal employment fluctuations have
    effectively stopped (See below and far right).

  • If Teton County is removed from the average, it
    costs about 21% more to live in Sublette County
    than the rest of Wyoming. Housing costs about
    35% more.
Employment: All Time High.
Likewise, according to the Wyoming
Department of Employment, Research &
Planning, the numbers of people employed
in Sublette County have risen sharply in the
past five years. The average number of
people employed in Sublette County has
2007, rising from 3454 employed in 2000 to
nearly 6500 employed in 2007 (See Graph at
Right, Click to Enlarge).  By comparison,
the permanent resident population in the
county is estimated to have increased by
about 25% during the same time period.
The increase is partially due to increased
winter-time employment, which will
increase the yearly average.

--Seasonal Fluctuations among "out of
towners", but not local residents--

As with unemployment rates, seasonal
fluctuations in employment numbers have
also effectively stopped. However, people
who work in Sublette County for a
company located outside the county are
probably not counted in these numbers.
Therefore, there are likely still large
workforce fluctuations among "rotational"
or temporary workers.

In addition, these numbers likely do not
include those who are self-employed.
Selected Employment/Unemployment Graphs
(Click Graphs to Enlarge)
property of the Sublette County Socioeconomic Analysis
Advisory Committee.
Please Contact Us for permission to use.  Photo By Brian
Hall.