Jobless rate hits 8-year low

Thursday, June 26, 1997 | 11:48 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Unemployment in Nevada inched down to 4.4 percent in May, the lowest it's been since 1989.

The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation said this was one-tenth of a percent lower than April and it is the fourth straight month the rate has either held steady or dropped.

Department Director Carol Jackson said Nevada's rate is well below the 4.8 percent national rate. Gov. Bob Miller said it appears Nevada will lead the nation again in 1997 in job growth, marking the fourth straight year.

"With our low unemployment, phenomenal job growth, and a continuing stream of new construction projects being announced, the likelihood of a continued strong economy in Nevada is more than probable," he said.

His statement came despite complaints that casino business in Las Vegas is off to a slow start this summer tourist season. But the resorts are hoping to enjoy a boom this weekend with the Holyfield-Tyson rematch.

Unemployment in the Las Vegas metropolitan statistical area in May remained at 4.1 percent -- the only area that didn't show a decrease in the month.

The jobless rate in Washoe County fell four-tenths of a percent to 3.7 percent. Carson City's labor market was down eight-tenths of a percent to 5.5 percent and the jobless rate in Elko-Eureka counties was 4.3 percent, a drop of six-tenths of a percent.

The number of jobs in Nevada climbed to 847,900, or 57,100 more than a year ago, a 7.2 percent gain. The service industry, which includes gaming and hotels, registered 383,000 jobs, up 5.3 percent from May 1996.

Government employment grew 6.4 percent to 108,100 jobs; trade was up 7.5 percent to 180,100 job; construction accounted for 82,900 people employed, up 15 percent and manufacturing companies reported employed at 39,000, up 3.1 percent.

In the Las Vegas area, which includes Clark and Nye counties and Mohave County in Arizona, total employment reached 642,500, up 8.2 percent from May last year. There was a 6.6 percent growth in employment in the service industries to 286,900 jobs.

Construction jobs in the Las Vegas area by 13.8 percent to 63,700; government employment increased 7.8 percent from May 1996 to 66,400 people; jobs in the trade sector was up 8.4 percent to 128,800 and manufacturing accounted for 22,300 jobs, up 4.2 percent in the year-to-year employment.