Nevada jobless rate dips as economy improves

Friday, Nov. 21, 2003 | 11:02 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Unemployment in October dropped to 5 percent in Nevada, a decline of three-tenths of a percentage point from September as the economy continue to rebound.

The state Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation reported today that there were an estimated 52,700 people without jobs last month, or 3,500 less than in September.

The Nevada rate compares with the nation's 6 percent and California's 6.6 percent. The October rate of 5 percent compares to 4.9 percent in October 2002.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said there have been 35,000 jobs created in the state in the past year. Total employment last month stood at 1,098,700.

"Both of Nevada's metropolitan areas have shown solid employment growth in recent months," the governor said.

He said the strengthening national economy should give a boost to Las Vegas's tourism industry and to the warehousing and wholesale trade sectors in Northern Nevada.

The department said unemployment in the Las Vegas metropolitan statistical area -- which includes Clark and Nye counties and Mohave County in Arizona -- dipped to 4.9 percent, compared with the 5.3 percent in September. It was also lower than the 5 percent registered in October 2002.

The department said there were 826,800 jobs, or about 28,000 more than a year ago, in the Las Vegas area.

Department Director Myla Florence said temporary employment statewide has increased. "One of the more positive economic indicators is an increase in the use of temporary help," she said.

"The employment services industry has experienced a gain of nearly 8 percent statewide over the past year," she said. "Hiring temporary workers is often followed by permanent hiring."

The department said statewide there was a gain of 8 percent in employment in the construction industry to 101,800 jobs in October compared to a year ago; manufacturing was up 2.1 percent to 43,800 employed; retail trade grew 5.5 percent to 122,400; casinos and hotels inched up 0.7 percent to 193,600 and government employment grew 2.3 percent statewide to 139,400.

The Las Vegas areas reported an 8.6 percent gain in construction to 83,300 jobs in the year-to-year comparison; retail trade grew 6.1 percent to 95,200; casinos and hotels increased by 1.5 percent to 166,000 and government employment rose 3.5 percent to 94,000.

Washoe County's jobless rate fell to 3.7 percent, down two-tenths of one percent from September. There were an estimated 7,300 people out of work. Total employment reached 204,800, up 3.1 percent from a year ago.

The department said Carson City's labor market area that includes the city, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties, posted a 5.2 percent unemployment rate, down from 5.4 percent in September. There were an estimated 3,180 people out of work. Total employment fell to 57,640, down 1.8 percent from a year ago.

Elko and Eureka counties reported an unemployment rate of 3.9 percent, down from the 4.3 percent in September. There were an estimated 830 people out of work. Total employment rose 0.6 percent to 21,080 compared to a year ago in the same month.