Counties in Profile: Natrona, page 2

   Chart 3: Total Employment, 1969-1999

Chart 3 highlights employment in Natrona County. Employment is one of the most commonly used measures of health in a community. It gives a quick snap shot of the percentage of the population working and whether more or less jobs are available   over time. The chart above shows "total employment" which includes both full and part-time jobs. The major feature of this graph is the "hump" of the energy boom years from the mid-1970's to the mid-1980's. A slow but steady increase in the employment level since the end of the boom indicated by the upward trend of the columns. Overall job growth during the period was 67% or 2.2% annually. This compares with the statewide value of 104% or 3.2% annually

Chart 4: Population, 1969-1999

Chart 4 shows the population for Natrona county. Population rose slightly in the early 1970's and then boomed in the latter half of the decade peaking in 1982 with 77,094 residents. Population declined for the rest of the 1980's and did not show an increase until 1991 Since that time, the number of residents has been stable to slightly increasing. The population has risen from 50,779 in 1969 to 63,157 in 1999 resulting in a 24% increase (excluding the boom years). This corresponds to a 0.8% annual growth rate during the period shown.