Joblessness down in Vegas, up statewide

Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003 | 11:04 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The jobless rate in the Las Vegas area fell in July and there were 16,000 more people working in that area than in the same month a year ago.

The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported Monday the unemployment rate in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area that includes Clark and Nye counties and Mohave County in Arizona was 5.6 percent last month, down from 5.8 percent in July 2002.

There were an estimated 50,100 people out of work, a reduction of 2,100 from July 2002. And the 5.6 percent rate was the same as in June.

The seasonally adjusted statewide jobless rate edged up one-tenth of a percentage point to 5.4 percent in July -- but it is still below the nation's 6.2 percent and the 6.6 percent registered in neighboring California.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said, "Nevada's unemployment and job growth rates have been fairly stable for the past year and have recovered from temporary disruptions caused by SARS and the war in Iraq.

"If the U.S. economy continues its recent improvement, Nevada will benefit," said Guinn.

Statewide, there were an estimated 60,500 people jobless in July, or 2,400 fewer than the same month a year ago. The number of jobs grew by 1.7 percent, or 17,900, to a total of 1,066,700.

Department Director Myla Florence said, "The stability that Nevada's economy has demonstrated is admirable given the failure of the national economy to produce new jobs.

"'Nevada's job growth remains in the top tier of states, even though it is well below the growth generated before the national recession.

A breakdown of the statewide job growth compared to July 2002 shows construction grew 3.9 percent to 97,900; manufacturing was off 0.2 percent to 42,900. Trade, transportation and utilities reported 192,900 employed, up 0.8 percent from a year ago and hotels and casinos reported 207,800 jobs, up 0.3 percent from July 2002.

The department said professional and business services produced 114,600 jobs, up 1.8 percent. Mining reported 1,300 jobs, the same as July last year. And government employment increased 2.9 percent to 126,000.

Construction employment in the Las Vegas area grew 4.6 percent to 80,000; casinos and hotels had 165,800 on the job, up 1 percent from July 2002; trade, transportation and utilities reported 143,200 jobs, an increase of 1.2 percent; professional and business services produced 88,700, up 1.5 percent from a year ago when there were 87,400.

The department said government employment rose 4 percent to 83,300 in the Las Vegas area in July.

Unemployment in Washoe County fell from 4.3 percent in July 2002 to 4.2 percent last month. There were an estimated 8,300 people out of work. Total employment rose to 198,700, up 1.4 percent from a year ago.

Carson City's labor management area reported an unemployment rate of 5.7 percent, up from the 5.3 percent in July 2002. There were an estimated 3,640 out of work. Employment totaled 63,780, an increase of 20 workers in the area that covers Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties.

Elko and Eureka counties had 22,330 in the labor force, an increase of 2.8 percent from a year ago. The unemployment was 4.7 percent, down from 4.9 percent. There were an estimated 1,050 out of work.