CHEYENNE — More people are commuting to Wyoming for their jobs, while fewer residents of the state are leaving when they go to work, federal data shows.
Between 2006 and 2010, more than 13,500 people drove or flew into Wyoming to work, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported Wednesday, citing the American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau.
That’s about 4.7 percent of the total workforce, up from 2.9 percent in 2000.
The survey also said state residents are now less likely to work outside the state. Only about 2.2 percent worked outside Wyoming between 2006 and 2010, compared with 3 percent in 2000.
Laramie and Teton counties saw the greatest influx of out-of-state workers. Laramie County drew about 2,400, mostly from Larimer and Weld counties in Colorado. Teton County attracted about 2,200 out-of-staters, mainly from Idaho.
Laramie County also topped the list of Wyoming counties where residents commute out of state, with about 1,300 people heading to Colorado and Nebraska. Sheridan County ranked second, with about 700 commuters going mainly to Montana.
Intrastate travel is also on the rise, due in part to the energy boom Wyoming has enjoyed during the past decade. For example, nearly a third of people employed in Sublette County commute from elsewhere, compared with just 7.1 percent in 2000.
Economist Wenlin Liu with the Wyoming Economic Analysis Division said the numbers suggest the state’s improving economy is making it a better place to work.
“The number of people commuting into Laramie County is almost three times the amount commuting the other way,” he said. “It’s an indication we have a stronger economy and a lot stronger economy in this period than in 2000.”
