Wyoming Has Nations 4th Highest Population Growth

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming has 6,000 more new residents than it did a year ago, giving the Cowboy State the fourth-highest population growth rate in the country.

The State Economic Analysis division says the newcomers moved to Wyoming between July 2011 and July 2012.

Division senior economist Wenlin Liu told media that the migration is likely due to Wyoming's healthy job market, especially in the oil and gas industry. There are also more construction jobs because of a turnaround in the housing market.

The state's unemployment rate is about 5.4 percent, compared with 8 percent nationally.

The last U.S. Census in 2010 found that Wyoming's population grew 14 percent to reach 563,000 people.