Wyoming Workforce Outlook Projected 28,000 New Jobs
State employers face a shifting labor market as projections target growth through 2034.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Employment
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The Wyoming Workforce Annual Report projects the state will add 28,000 jobs by 2034, even as total employment in the state declined in 2025. This long-term growth outlook assumes a 9.9% increase across various sectors despite recent losses in federal government roles.
Why it matters
Operators must navigate a landscape where growth is tied to specific sectors like healthcare and temporary construction projects, while labor availability remains tight due to historical out-migration and an aging workforce. Understanding these shifts is critical for managing recruitment costs and strategic planning.
The state expects a 9.9% growth rate, with the healthcare and social assistance sector adding nearly 4,000 jobs and 8,300 total openings projected for truck drivers over the next decade. These figures follow a Q4 2025 mining sector employment level of 15,000.
The players
Wyoming Workforce
The state agency responsible for tracking employment statistics, labor market trends, and setting workforce development projections for Wyoming.
The details
Job growth projections rely on historical trends and total openings, which aggregate new positions with workforce exits and transfers. The labor pool was previously thinned by a millennial out-migration during the 2015-2016 economic downturn and an earlier retirement shift among baby boomers. Consequently, demand for specialized roles like heavy truck drivers remains high even as total public sector jobs, such as the 260 federal positions lost, shrink.
Timeline
Q4 2008 marked the peak of mining sector employment in the state.
2012 saw the first baby boomers become eligible for retirement.
2015-2016 triggered a significant millennial out-migration following an economic downturn.
2025 recorded an overall decrease in total employment in Wyoming.
2024-2034 represents the decade-long window for the projected 28,000 job growth.
Market Landscape
The state's labor market continues to grapple with the structural changes established by the 2015-2016 economic downturn. This latest report highlights how regional workforce challenges in Wyoming, such as out-migration to neighboring states, mirror long-term shifts in energy-dependent economies.
Employers should monitor the projected 8,300 openings for truck drivers and 4,000 roles in healthcare as early indicators of sector-specific competition. Factor in the continued scarcity of younger workers when forecasting your recruiting timelines for the next three years.
The takeaway
The projected 9.9% growth rate suggests a competitive labor market for key operational roles despite broader employment fluctuations. Review your talent retention strategy now to insulate your business against the projected scarcity of skilled labor in transport and healthcare sectors.
Further reading
For more on local workforce trends, see the Employment section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wyoming Public Media.
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