Nevada unemployment rate dips slightly in May

Thursday, June 25, 1998 | 11:23 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Nevada's unemployment rate in May inched down to 4.7 percent as the economy remained strong, the state reported today.

There were an estimated 39,500 people out of work last month, about 2,100 less than in April with the jobless rate declining one-tenth of a percentage point, the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation said.

The rate was four-tenths of a point higher than the nation's 4.3 percent rate but lower than the 5.8 percent posted in neighboring California.

Department Director Carol Jackson said, "We see no change on the horizon in economic trends -- though we continue to watch all indicators.

"Nevada's over-the-year job growth remains strong and numerous new projects either under construction or planned should continue the healthy job growth outlook," she said.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area reported unemployment at 4.1 percent, down two-tenths of 1 percentage point from April. Washoe County's rate fell from 4.2 percent to 3.8 percent in May. The jobless rate in the Carson City area was 5.9 percent, down seven-tenths of 1 percentage point. And the Elko labor market dropped eight-tenths of a percentage point to 6.1 percent.

The department reported total employment statewide reached 924,400, up 4.1 percent from a year ago. In the Las Vegas market that includes Clark and Nye counties and Mohave County in Arizona, total employment was 658,500, up 4.7 percent from a year ago.

Statewide, jobs in the service industries, which include hotels and gaming, rose to 393,100, up 3.3 percent from a year ago. Construction employment increased 7.5 percent to 87,800; manufacturing was up 5.2 percent to 42,500; trade grew 4.9 percent with 186,400 jobs and government employment increased 3.6 percent to 111,700 workers.

In the Las Vegas market, employment in the service industries rose 3.8 percent to 294,800 people on the job; construction was up 7 percent to 68,900; trade employed 134,400 workers, up 7 percent and government employment totaled 69,800, up 5.1 percent.

The department said employment in Washoe County rose 1.9 percent to 167,100 from May of a year ago. The Carson City area, which includes Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties, grew 4.2 percent in employment to 50,650. Elko and Eureka counties reported 22,050 total employment, up 4.6 percent from a year ago.

The only soft spot in the economy came in mining due to low gold prices. There were 13,600 miners employed statewide, down 6.8 percent from a year ago.