Jobless rate down; post-attack numbers not in

Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 | 10:50 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Unemployment in Nevada inched down to 4.7 percent with an estimated 49,700 people out of work in September -- but the figures do not take into account the economic downturn after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The state department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation said the number reflecting the layoffs after the attack will show in the October report, which will be released next month.

But for the first time this year, the number of people employed in the gaming industry declined both statewide and in Las Vegas compared to a year ago.

The number of people working during the month reached 1,077,100, up 3.1 percent from a year ago.

The Las Vegas metropolitan statistical area, (which includes Clark and Nye counties in Nevada and Mohave County in Arizona), posted an unemployment rate of 4.9 percent, down from the 5.1 percent in August. There were an estimated 40,400 people looking for jobs during the month. Total employment reached 719,4000, up 3.4 percent from a year ago in September.

Separately, taxable sales, one indication of general business activity in Clark County, slowed in August, even before the economic downturn in September.

The state Tax Department reported Wednesday that taxable sales reached $1.9 billion in Clark County, up 2.9 percent from August 2000. That was the second smallest percentage gain in the last 15 months in Southern Nevada.

Only June this year was lower at 2.6 percent. And one reason was business in bars and restaurants was stagnant. The department said eating and drinking places in Clark County reported sales of $395.5 million, off slightly from August 2000.