Nevada jobless rate dips to 4.4 percent

Thursday, June 26, 1997 | 11:49 a.m.

Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation statistics, released Thursday, show there were 892,200 people working in all industries, up from 885,900 in April. There were 36,100 people out of work, down from 37,900 in the same period.

DETR chief Carol Jackson said Nevada's rate is well below a national rate of 4.8 percent in May, and has ranged from 4.6 percent to the current 4.4 percent for five straight months.

Gov. Bob Miller said the state has led the nation with unprecedented job growth 'and 1997 looks like we are in for a repeat performance."

The DETR report shows 2,300 more workers in the casino-related service industry; 1,900 more trade workers, including 500 in bars and restaurants; and 900 more construction workers. Government hiring was up 500.

There were 200 more transportation-utilities employees; 100 more miners; 200 more workers in finance-insurance-real estate; and 200 more employees in manufacturing.

The survey also shows the Las Vegas metropolitan area had an unadjusted May jobless rate of 4.1 percent, the same as in April.

The employment total in the area, which includes Clark and Nye counties in Nevada and Mohave County in Arizona, was 631,600 and the jobless total was 27,100.

The Reno area's unadjusted rate was 3.7 percent, down from 4.1 percent in April. The employment total there was 177,500 and the jobless total was 6,300.

The Carson City-Douglas-Lyon-Storey rate was 5.5 percent, down from 6.3 percent. Employment totaled 49,450 and the jobless count was 2,890.

The Elko-Eureka counties' jobless rate in May was 4.3 percent, down from 4.9 percent. Employment totaled 21,740 and unemployment totaled 970.