Wyoming, Cheyenne continue steady economic growth

Oil production is driving a rise in sales and use tax in Wyoming, along with the increase in activity in the construction sector. The building of new pipelines in Wyoming has helped boost employment in construction by 2,000 jobs over this time last year, an increase of 10.1%. The 700 jobs added in the retail sector in large part were tied to the increase in oil and construction activity, said Jim Robinson, principal economist for Wyoming.

“We’re seeing those jobs because of oil production and because of pipeline construction. The retail trade is getting some of that spillover from the pipeline activity,” Robinson said. “It’s a ripple effect. Once you start that interest in the oil sector in Wyoming, in terms of drilling, in terms of construction, it spills over into other areas as well.”