Unemployment rates see decrease

Hot Springs County’s jobless rate dropped from March to April, going from 4.4% in March to 3.9% in April.

Statewide, unemployment rates fell in all 23 counties, however, the labor force also fell in 13 counties, suggesting that some of the people who were unemployed actually left the state or dropped out of the labor force.

Hot Springs County is one of those that lost people in their labor force, which affects the unemployment rate, possibly skewing the percentage numbers.

Our labor force in March was 2,505, while April was 2,416, a difference of 89 people. The difference could be attributed to people moving or possibly retiring.

With those numbers in mind, Hot Springs County had 14 fewer unemployed, creating a half-percent drop in unemployment.

The largest drops in unemployment were seen in Sublette, Campbell, Converse and Natrona Counties.

Teton County’s unemployment rate rose from 2.8 percent to 4.9 percent with the end of ski season.