While U.S. job growth has soured, Wyoming's remains sweet.

In June, the Cowboy State continued with the fastest job growth in the nation, according to David Bullard, senior economist for the Research and Planning Section, Wyoming Department of Employment. It also was tied for second-lowest unemployment rate.

"The most recent data we have for home prices and population looks good, too," he said. "I'm not really aware of any negative indicators for the state."

The state added 7,700 jobs in June 2008 compared to June 2007, or an increase of 2.6 percent. By contrast, U.S. employment fell by 167,000, or minus-0.1 percent.

Wyoming's unemployment rate stood at 3.2 percent, up slightly from 2.9 percent in May, while the U.S. unemployment rate was 5.5 percent.

The state's largest job gains over the year were in construction and government, which added 2,600 and 2,000 jobs, respectively. Leisure and hospitality, and natural resources mining, each added 700 jobs.

Manufacturing employment fell by 400 jobs. Bullard said some of the decline can be attributed to losses in wood product manufacturing, transportation, equipment manufacturing, and printing.

Big Horn County posted the highest unemployment rate at 4.3 percent, followed by Fremont, Goshen, and Platte counties, all at 4.0 percent.

The lowest unemployment rates were in Sublette (1.4 percent), Teton (1.9 percent) and Campbell (2.1 percent) counties.

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

County unemployment rates

Preliminary figures

June 2008 June 2007

Albany 2.8 2.6

Big Horn 4.3 3.7

Campbell 2.1 2.1

Carbon 3.0 2.9

Converse 2.8 2.8

Crook 3.0 2.4

Fremont 4.0 3.7

Goshen 4.0 3.6

Hot Springs 3.7 3.4

Johnson 3.5 3.1

Laramie 3.7 3.6

Lincoln 2.9 2.5

Natrona 3.0 2.6

Niobrara 3.7 2.4

Park 2.8 2.6

Platte 4.0 4.2

Sheridan 3.0 2.8

Sublette 1.4 1.5

Sweetwater 2.4 2.3

Teton 1.9 2.0

Uinta 3.1 2.7

Washakie 3.3 3.5

Weston 3.1 3.1