Wyoming's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up in August, and the rate of job growth continued to slow.

State job growth declined from 2.9 percent in July to 2.2 percent in August, when compared to year-earlier figures. Job growth peaked at 5.6 percent in June 2006, according to the Research and Planning Section of the Wyoming Department of Employment.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 3.6 percent in July to 3.9 percent in August.

Even so, the state economy still outperformed the nation as a whole. U.S. unemployment stood at 6.1 percent in August, and U.S. employment was down from a year earlier by -0.3 percent.

Carola Cowan, Bureau of Labor Statistics programs supervisor, said some slowing in construction was evident in August: "Usually, we see it a little later in the season," she said.

Even so, construction and mining employment, both pillars of the energy boom, added jobs in August when compared to August 2007.

Natural resources and mining added 1,300 jobs, while construction added 1,000, and government, including public schools, colleges and hospitals, grew by 1,500.

Overall, the state added 6,500 jobs in August compared to August 2007.

Big Horn County had the highest unemployment rate at 4.7 percent, followed by Fremont County at 4.5 percent and Platte County at 4.4 percent.

Sublette County posted the lowest unemployment rate at 1.8 percent, followed by Teton (2 percent), Campbell (2.3 percent) and Sweetwater (2.7 percent) counties.

In Natrona County, the unemployment rate stood at 3.2 percent in August. Total employment was 39,048.

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

County unemployment rates

August 2008 August 2007

Albany 2.9 2.1

Big Horn 4.7 3.4

Campbell 2.3 1.8

Carbon 3.5 2.6

Converse 3.3 2.7

Crook 3.4 2.4

Fremont 4.5 3.4

Goshen 4.3 3.1

Hot Springs 3.8 2.8

Johnson 4.0 2.8

Laramie 4.2 3.1

Lincoln 3.3 1.9

Natrona 3.2 2.3

Niobrara 3.9 2.1

Park 3.1 2.3

Platte 4.4 4.0

Sheridan 3.1 2.4

Sublette 1.8 1.1

Sweetwater 2.7 2.0

Teton 2.0 1.3

Uinta 3.6 2.4

Washakie 3.5 3.8

Weston 4.3 2.8

Preliminary figures; seasonally unadjusted

August 2008 August 2007

Albany 2.9 2.1

Big Horn 4.7 3.4

Campbell 2.3 1.8

Carbon 3.5 2.6

Converse 3.3 2.7

Crook 3.4 2.4

Fremont 4.5 3.4

Goshen 4.3 3.1

Hot Springs 3.8 2.8

Johnson 4.0 2.8

Laramie 4.2 3.1

Lincoln 3.3 1.9

Natrona 3.2 2.3

Niobrara 3.9 2.1

Park 3.1 2.3

Platte 4.4 4.0

Sheridan 3.1 2.4

Sublette 1.8 1.1

Sweetwater 2.7 2.0

Teton 2.0 1.3

Uinta 3.6 2.4

Washakie 3.5 3.8

Weston 4.3 2.8

Preliminary figures; seasonally unadjusted]]->