Nevada jobless rate down

Tuesday, March 26, 2002 | 11:29 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Unemployment dipped to a five-month low in Nevada in February at 6.1 percent as state officials are hoping for an upturn in the economy, the state reported today.

The rate was down from 6.3 percent in January and was the lowest since September's 5.2 percent.

The rate in February 2001 was 4.6 percent and as the economy slowed the unemployment rate increased.

It rose to a high of 6.9 percent in December because of the slowdown and travel fears caused by the September terrorism.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said today, "These figures represent the lowest unemployment in five months, which provides fuel for continued cautious optimism that the economy is turning around."

There were an estimated 66,200 people out of work -- or 4,700 less than in January.

The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported the February jobless figure was six-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national average and equal to the California rate.

The department said the jobless rate in the Las Vegas metropolitan statistical area (Clark and Nye counties and Mohave County in Arizona) fell to 6.3 percent, down five-tenths of a percentage point from January. There were an estimated 52,300 people out of work in this area.

Department Director Myla Florence said that during the past 12 months 5,700 new jobs were created in the state. "We are hopeful that Nevada's job growth will continue its current upward momentum."

There were an estimated 1,049,200 jobs statewide, up .5 percent from February 2001.

The department said a breakdown statewide shows mining employment off 10.7 percent in the year-to-year comparison; construction jobs rose by 4.4 percent; manufacturing dipped by 1.9 percent; Trade grew by 2.7 percent; hotels, gaming and recreation employment fell 3.3 percent and government jobs rose by 2.9 percent.

In the Las Vegas statistical area, total jobs grew .7 percent to 779,300 since February 2001. Construction employment was up 3.1 percent; manufacturing was off .4 percent; transportation and public utilities fell by 3 percent; trade grew by 2.9 percent; hotels, gaming and recreation dropped by 1.3 percent and government employment was up 4.1 percent.

The agency said unemployment in Washoe County fell from 5.8 percent in January to 5.4 percent in February. There were an estimated 7,700 people out of work. And total employment increased to 194,6000, up .7 percent from a year ago.

The Carson City labor market areas (Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties) recorded a 7.2 percent unemployment rate, down .4 percent from January. There were an estimated 4,270 people out of work. Total employment reached 55,330, up 3.8 percent from a year ago.

Elko and Eureka counties posted a 6.3 percent unemployment rate, up .1 percent from a year ago. There were 1,280 people unemployed. And total jobs reached 18,940, up 1.8 percent from a year ago.