CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne and Laramie County started the new year with increased unemployment and increased sales tax revenue, according to the latest monthly Wyoming Economic Analysis Division report that also showed home prices rose 3.3% compared to last year.
The Cheyenne Economic Health Index registered a value of 108.1 in January 2025, the latest month for which data is available. That’s a marginal decrease from the value of 108.6 recorded in January 2024.
The ChEHI has shown year-over-year decreases for the past six months.
Laramie County realized a 3% year-over-year increase in total sales and use tax collections. January 2025 collections totaled $9.9 million. That’s up about $600,000 from the prior year.
The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Laramie County was 4.4% in January 2025, up from 3.7% in January 2024 and just slightly higher than the statewide rate. That may be due in part to more people entering the labor market as total nonfarm payroll employment in Laramie County reached 48,900 in January 2025. That marks a 0.6% increase, up about 300 jobs, from last year.
The Economic Analysis Division said this marks the 25th consecutive month of year-over-year employment growth in the Cheyenne area.
The average home value in Laramie County also increased to $368,200 in January, a 3.3% rise from January 2024.
Wyoming’s Statewide Economic Trends
The Economic Analysis Division’s Wyoming Economic Health Index showed a value of 106.3 in January 2025, down from 107.1 in January 2024. The WEHI has shown year-over-year declines for the last six months.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Wyoming was 3.6% in January 2025, higher than the 2.8% in January 2024 but below the national rate of 4%.
Total nonfarm payroll employment in Wyoming reached 295,700 in January 2025, an increase of 0.9%, or about 2,600 jobs, from the previous year.
A sector-specific change affecting the state’s score is the 19.9% year-over-year decrease in sales and use tax collections from the mining sector in January 2025, amounting to $7 million, a $1.5 million reduction. However, sales and use tax collections from lodging went up 3.8% in January 2025, reaching $2.3 million.
The reports are attached below:
