Wyoming's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continued to inch up in July, but still remained well below the national rate.

After hitting a recent low of 2.6 percent in April, the unemployment rate has increased in recent months. It hit 3.6 percent in July, according to the Research and Planning Section, Wyoming Department of Employment, the highest level since November 2005.

"Things seem to be slowing down a little bit," Senior Economist David Bullard said. "Job growth back in '06 peaked out at 5.6 percent. Now it's down to 2.5 (percent)."

The national economic downturn seems to be having some impact on the state, he added.

Manufacturing employment declined by 300 jobs between July 2007 and July 2008. "Those seem to be related to the national economy, particularly the housing situation," Bullard said.

At the same time, natural resources and mining employment, which had flattened out by the second half of 2007, is increasing again. The sector added 1,500 jobs over the year, in such areas as coal mining, oil and gas, and even uranium.

"Uranium is very small, but it's growing," Bullard said.

Despite slowing from its 2006 peak, at 2.5 percent the state's job growth continued well ahead of the national pace of minus-0.10 percent.

From July 2007 to July 2008, the state added 7,400 jobs. The biggest gains came in construction, up 2,300 jobs; natural resources and mining, with an increase of 1,500 jobs; and government, up 1,500 jobs.

Most county unemployment rates increased slightly from year-earlier levels.

The highest unemployment rates were in Big Horn (4.6 percent), Platte (4.5 percent) and Goshen (4.4 percent) counties.

Sublette County had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.5 percent, followed by Teton County at 1.7 percent and Campbell County at 2.0 percent.

Natrona County's unemployment rate in July stood at 2.9 percent, with total employment of 39,406.

Business Editor Tom Mast can be reached at tom.mast@trib.com, or call 307-266-0574.

County unemployment rates

Preliminary figures; seasonally unadjusted

July 2008 2007

Albany 2.6 2.5

Big Horn 4.6 3.9

Campbell 2.0 2.0

Carbon 3.1 2.8

Converse 2.9 2.6

Crook 3.2 2.3

Fremont 4.1 3.7

Goshen 4.4 3.5

Hot Springs 3.5 3.0

Johnson 4.1 2.9

Laramie 3.9 3.4

Lincoln 3.1 2.2

Natrona 2.9 2.7

Niobrara 3.7 2.2

Park 2.8 2.4

Platte 4.5 4.2

Sheridan 2.9 2.6

Sublette 1.5 1.3

Sweetwater 2.5 2.2

Teton 1.7 1.5

Uinta 3.3 2.6

Washakie 3.3 3.3

Weston 3.4 3.0

Preliminary figures; seasonally unadjusted

July 2008 2007

Albany 2.6 2.5

Big Horn 4.6 3.9

Campbell 2.0 2.0

Carbon 3.1 2.8

Converse 2.9 2.6

Crook 3.2 2.3

Fremont 4.1 3.7

Goshen 4.4 3.5

Hot Springs 3.5 3.0

Johnson 4.1 2.9

Laramie 3.9 3.4

Lincoln 3.1 2.2

Natrona 2.9 2.7

Niobrara 3.7 2.2

Park 2.8 2.4

Platte 4.5 4.2

Sheridan 2.9 2.6

Sublette 1.5 1.3

Sweetwater 2.5 2.2

Teton 1.7 1.5

Uinta 3.3 2.6

Washakie 3.3 3.3

Weston 3.4 3.0]]->