Jobless claim decline seen as good news for Nevada economy

Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002 | 10:43 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- New claims for unemployment benefits by Nevadans dropped for the fourth consecutive week, indicating the economy is stabilizing.

The state Employment Security Division reported Monday that 4,025 workers filed last week for jobless benefits, down from the 4,741 of the week ending Dec. 28.

Division Director Birgit Baker said there has been a "significant decline" in first-time claims since the beginning of December, when the number reached 5,917.

"We're hoping that in the first of the year, things will get back to normal," she said. Casinos usually hire more workers in anticipation of the surge on the three-day Presidents Day weekend, one of the strongest of the year.

She said ample snow in Northern Nevada should mean the ski resorts kept their employees on the job. But construction may have slowed because of the inclement weather.

As of Friday there were 41,613 people drawing weekly benefits, down from the 42,190 the week of Dec. 28.

The trust fund paid out about $9 million in benefits, about the same amount as the week before, Baker said. The amounts range from $16 to a maximum of $301.