Nevada jobless rate 4.5 percent in October

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002 | 11:14 a.m.

Nevada jobless rate 4.5 percent in October, down from SeptemberCARSON CITY, Nev.- The state's jobless rate dipped to 4.5 percent in October, from 4.9 percent in September, as the number of out-of-work Nevadans dropped from 51,400 to 47,500.

A report Tuesday from the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation also shows nearly 1.1 million people were working in Nevada during October.

Gov. Kenny Guinn noted the last time Nevada's jobless rate was so low was in January 2001. He added the rate is encouraging considering the "frustratingly slow pace" of national economic improvement.

Nevada's tourism-dependent economy "cannot fully resume dynamic growth until the nation's economy stabilizes," Guinn said. "Our state is one of many facing financial difficulties due to the prolonged national economic slump."

DETR chief Myla Florence said the state's seasonally adjusted 4.5 percent rate compares with a national average of 5.7 percent and neighboring California's rate of 6.4 percent.

In Las Vegas, the unadjusted jobless rate in October was 4.8 percent, down from 5.2 percent in September. Of the statewide total of jobless people, about 39,900 were in the Las Vegas area and other towns and cities in Clark County. Also included in the area are Nye County, Nev., and Mohave County, Ariz.

In the Reno area, the unadjusted rate was 3.5 percent, down from 3.9 percent in September. The jobless total there was 6,700.

In Carson City the unadjusted rate for October was 4.3 percent, down from 4.8 percent in the previous month, with 2,510 jobless. The Elko-Eureka counties area had a 4.3 percent rate, down from 4.8 percent in September, with 820 jobless.

Statewide, government hiring went up 4,300 between September and October, but the casino-related service industry cut 1,400 workers and construction reported a 300-job loss in the same period.

Mining dropped 200 jobs, transportation-utilities added 400, manufacturing added 100, trade held steady, and finance-insurance-real estate was down 100 between September and October.

Florence said that over the year there were about 30,000 new jobs, with modest gains in most employment categories. She said that's the first time since the Sept. 11, 2002, terrorist attacks that such gains have occurred.