Wyoming Residents Have Differing Views on National and State Economy, UW Poll Shows

A new University of Wyoming study found a significant sense of pessimism among Wyoming residents about the national economy, with 71 percent saying they believe the situation has worsened over the past year. While 12 percent believe economic conditions have remained the same, only 18 percent see any improvement.

Wyoming’s economic outlook is somewhat more positive, although still cautious. Just over half of respondents, 52 percent, believe the state’s economy has worsened over the past year. Meanwhile, 12 percent report improvement, while approximately 36 percent believe the situation has remained the same.

The statewide survey was conducted Sept. 24-Oct. 27, which yielded 739 responses from randomly selected Wyoming residents. The margin of error for the distribution of responses for any individual survey question is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. The survey data proportionately represented men and women from all age groups and from all Wyoming counties. The final survey data were weighted to reflect the actual distribution of Wyoming’s population by gender, age, county of residence, party affiliation and education.

Looking ahead, optimism remains limited as only 38 percent of respondents expect the national economy to improve in the next year. In contrast, 36 percent expect the situation to worsen, 18 percent expect stability, and 26 percent remain uncertain about future economic trends.

On the future of Wyoming’s economy, sentiment is mixed: 27 percent expect economic conditions to improve in the next 12 months; 29 percent believe the situation will worsen; and nearly 44 percent expect stability. In addition, 22 percent of participants express uncertainty about the future state of the economy.

The data reflects prevailing concerns and cautious optimism among Wyoming residents as they grapple with current economic challenges and contemplate the future, said Ryan Williamson, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Washington.

“There is a prevailing economic pessimism about the national landscape, but there is cautious optimism within Wyoming,” he says.

Economic Development Strategies

The survey results show varying opinions among Wyoming residents about the best path forward for economic development in the state.

According to the poll, 47 percent of Wyoming residents believe the state’s economy needs to be diversified. This view involves exploring new industries and technologies to create a balanced and sustainable economic landscape.

Conversely, 54 percent of respondents support expansion of traditional industries such as agriculture, coal mining and tourism, emphasizing the importance of these sectors in maintaining economic stability and growth in Wyoming.

“Wyoming’s economic future is at a crossroads, with residents equally valuing innovation and the strength of traditional industries,” Williamson says.

The biennial surveys of Wyoming residents are conducted by the UW School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies in partnership with the Wyoming Center for Research and Analysis. Questions focus on attitudes toward government, elected officials, candidates for office, and contemporary political issues. Questions regarding the survey can be directed to [email protected].

An overview report with a methodological description and full survey results can be found at https://wysac.uwyo.edu/wysac/projects/weys24/.

For the UW survey, a random sample of all cell phones and landlines was drawn. Selected respondents were contacted via email, mail, and telephone to complete the survey, with 59 percent of responses posted online and the remaining 41 percent via the interviewer’s telephone (92 percent via cellular).

“This approach to survey methodology gives every person in Wyoming who owns a phone an equal chance of being selected to participate in the survey,” says Brian Harnish, director of the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center. “Survey respondents accurately reflect the state’s population in terms of general demographic characteristics, which include age, gender and county of residence, as well as other indicators such as party affiliation and education level.”