Nevada jobless rate increases to 3.7 percent in August

Friday, Sept. 22, 2000 | 11:18 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Nevada's jobless rate inched up to 3.7 percent in August with an estimated 39,200 unemployed, the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported today.

The rate was two-tenths of a percentage point higher than July but down a full percentage point from August of last year. And it was lower than the national 4.1 percent rate and California's rate of 5.1 percent.

Department Director Myla Florence said, "Job growth in Southern Nevada continues but at a slower pace than last year." She said job growth in the Reno area was up by nearly 5 percent.

"Our economists anticipate Nevada's economy to continue to grow in the months to come," she said.

The department said there were 1.037 million people employed statewide, up 4.4 percent from a year ago. The only soft spot in the economy was mining, which fell 5.9 percent to 11,200 workers.

Employment statewide in construction grew 3.2 percent to 94,900; manufacturing was up 4 percent to 44,200; hotels, gaming and recreation posted a 3.8 percent gain to 254,000 workers; trade grew by 5.4 percent to 215,700 employees and government employment was up 4.7 percent to 115,200.

The department reported the Las Vegas metropolitan statistical area posted a 4.2 percent unemployment rate in August compared to 4.1 percent in July. There were an estimated 32,500 workers out of a job in the area, which includes Clark and Nye counties in Nevada and Mohave County in Arizona.

Employment reached 752,600, up 4.6 percent from a year ago. The number of jobs in construction reached 74,000, up 3.2 percent; manufacturing rose 3.8 percent to 24,400; hotels, gaming and recreation increased 3.7 percent to 199,400; trade grew 5.3 percent to 158,700; and government was up 6.3 percent to 74,500.

Washoe County unemployment inched up to 2.7 percent, compared to 2.6 percent in July. There were an estimated 4,900 people out of work. Total employment rose to 198,300, up 4.9 percent.