May job growth strong

Monday, June 20, 2005 | 10:49 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Total employment in Clark County grew to 869,500 workers in May, a 7.6 percent increase from a year ago, and the jobless rate remained low.

The construction industry posted a 16.2 percent increase in jobs, and professional and business services employment grew 10.1 percent in Clark County compared with a year ago.

The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported Friday the jobless rate in Clark County was 3.7 percent with an estimated 31,800 persons out of work. That compares with May 2004 when unemployment stood at 4.3 percent with 34,500 out of work.

The 3.7 percent in May this year was slightly lower than the 3.9 percent recorded in the previous month of April.

Statewide, the department said unemployment stood at 4 percent, the same as in April, but it was below the 5.1 percent national rate and California's 5.4 percent. The number of jobs grew to 1.22 million, up 6.6 percent or 75,300 more employed this May compared with a year ago.

There were an estimated 44,900 people out of work, down about 4,800 from April.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said the Nevada growth in new jobs was four times the national average.

Construction jobs statewide totaled 133,800 in May, a 15.8 percent increase from May 2004; manufacturing employment inched up 2.8 percent to 47,100; retail trade grew 3.4 percent statewide to 128,200; professional and business services employment was up 9.1 percent to 143,400 and employment in casino hotels and gaming increased 4.1 percent to 215,900.

The department said construction employment in Clark County totaled 99,900 workers; manufacturing was up 3.9 percent to 24,100 employed; retail trade totaled 91,600 workers, a 4.2 percent increase; financial activities grew 7 percent to 48,800 employed; professional and business services jumped 10.1 percent to 104,700 employed; gaming and hotels rose 5.6 percent to 175,800 workers; and government jobs grew 4.7 percent to 88,800 over a year ago.

Unemployment in Washoe and Storey counties fell to 3.5 percent, down from 3.9 percent in April and 3.6 percent of a year ago. There were an estimated 7,500 people out of work. Total employment was up 4.4 per cent to 217,300 in the year-to-year comparison.

The agency said unemployment in Carson City fell from 4.7 percent in April to 4.1 percent in May with 1,100 out of work. Eureka and Elko counties posted a 3.3 percent unemployment rate, down from 4 percent in April.