Unemployment in Nevada down to 3.9 percent

Friday, Oct. 22, 2004 | 6:48 a.m.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Nevada's unemployment rate dropped from an already low 4 percent in August to 3.9 percent in September - the state's lowest rate since mid-2000.

The seasonally adjusted rate compare with a national average of 5.4 percent and a 5.9 percent rate in neighboring California, according to a report Friday from the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

Birgit Baker, the agency's director, said that in September nearly every county in the state had a lower jobless rate than at the same point a year earlier.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said the figures show that Nevada's economy continues to be strong. He added that about 120,000 new private-sector jobs have been added since a post-Sept. 11 low in January 2002.

The state report shows the number of employed Nevadans increased by about 14,000 between August and September, to 1.15 million.

The number of out-of-work Nevadans dropped slightly, from about 46,000 to 45,800 in the same period.

The department's labor market analysts estimate that during September, the Las Vegas metropolitan statistical area, including Nye County and Mohave County in Arizona, had a nonseasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4 percent, no change from August.

The Reno area's nonseasonally adjusted jobless rate dropped one-tenth of a percent from August to 3.1 percent.

In the Carson City market area, including Carson City and Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties, September unemployment was reported at 4.2 percent, the same as in August.

The Elko labor market area, which includes Elko and Eureka counties, reported unemployment at 3.4 percent, down from 3.5 percent in August.

A breakdown of hiring by specific industries showed a month-to-month drop of about 400 jobs in the casino-related leisure and hospitality industry; while government hiring jumped by more than 10,000 as schools reopened around the state.

Construction was up 700 jobs; mining was down 100; and information-telecommunications also was down 100.

Manufacturing held steady; professional and business services hiring was up 1,400; and education and health services hiring was up 600.