After more than four years of sustained growth, employment in natural resources and mining fell in November when compared to November 2006.

Employment declined by 800 jobs, or 2.9 percent, in the sector, which includes oil and gas.

Tom Gallagher, manager of the Research and Planning Section, Wyoming Department of Employment, didn't view the over-the-year change as a matter of immediate concern.

"What it looks like to us is the rigs moved to Colorado, to other states," he said. "So they're still in the Rocky Mountain region. The guys are still employed. When we look at the claims data, we see a little bit of an uptick in mining and construction, but nothing substantial. So it wasn't like they lost their jobs, they're just mobile operations."

He noted that thousands of nonresidents continue to commute to the state for work.

"These companies move people around where they need them, and that's going to affect employment numbers," he said.

A big power plant construction project, for instance, might result in several hundred jobs temporarily, and a new leasing for oil and gas development could have the same effect.

"I don't know to what extent we're going to see steady growth, or a series of spikes," he said. "There's a lot of different balls in the air."

Gallagher said some slowdown was detected in the second quarter and in third quarter preliminary data, along with lower rig counts. But demand for energy commodities is still strong, with oil prices above historic levels. On Friday, the spot price of light sweet crude was more than $97 a barrel.

In addition, state employment growth overall remained robust, up 9,900 jobs, or 3.6 percent. Wyoming employment increased more than three times faster than the national average.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from its October level of 2.9 percent and remained much lower than the U.S. rate of 4.7 percent.

From October to November, employment fell by 3,800 jobs, or 1.3 percent. This level of decrease is consistent with normal seasonal patterns.

Seasonal job losses occurred in construction, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.

Over the year, the construction sector showed the biggest job gains at 2,900, or an increase of 11.9 percent.

Healthy growth also occurred in transportation and utilities, with an increase of 1,100 jobs, or 8 percent; leisure and hospitality, up 1,100 jobs, or 3.8 percent; and government, up 1,100 jobs, or 1.6 percent.

The lowest unemployment rates were in Sublette County at 1.3 percent, Campbell County at 2 percent and Sweetwater County at 2.1 percent.

The highest unemployment rates were in Niobrara County (4.7 percent), Big Horn County (4.3 percent) and Platte County (4.2 percent).

The November unemployment rate in Natrona County stood at 2.4 percent, up from 2.1 percent in October. Total employment for the month was 40,210.

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