Oil and gas jobs boosted Wyoming employment in second quarter

Despite faltering natural gas prices, the mining sector led all other Wyoming industries in job growth during the second quarter of 2011. That’s according to a report by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.

Statewide employment grew by more than 2,000 jobs that quarter, and about a third of those came from oil and gas positions in Natrona County alone.

Department of Workforce Services Senior Economist David Bullard says that while natural gas prices dropped, other energy sectors kept busy, and had more jobs to fill.

"A significant portion are related to oil, and the oil prices have held up well, so that may be offsetting a lack of drilling for natural gas."

Bullard says the preview of the third quarter showed continued growth in the industry.