economy:

Clark County jobless rate soars to 7.5 percent

Published Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 | 10:51 a.m.

Updated Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 | 12:02 p.m.

Detailed employment numbers

Oct. 20 -- Nevada jobless rate at highest level in 23 years
Sept. 19 -- Unemployment hits 7.1 percent in August

Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation

CARSON CITY -- The October unemployment rate in Clark County matched a record tying mark of 7.5 percent, set in June 1992.

The number of workers employed in construction and manufacturing fell in October, compared to the previous month in the Las Vegas area.

There were a reported 76,400 persons out of work in Southern Nevada, compared to 48,400 a year ago in October. But total employment last months reached 936,400, up 24,000 from October 2007.

The state Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation, reported Friday the state’s jobless rate rose to 7.6 percent, the highest it’s been since May 1985. The state’s rate has exceeded the national average every month since mid 2007.

The national rate in October was 6.5 percent.

Bill Anderson, chief economist for the department said, “Key components of the state’s economy – housing, commercial development and consumer spending – have been hit especially hard.”

He predicted that the holiday retail sales and holiday hiring will be “significantly lower than what we have seen in years past.”

The construction industry has been hardest hit due to the housing slump, Anderson said. In the Clark County area, there were 91,900 persons employed in the sector, 8,700 less than in October 2007 and 1,400 less than in September this year.

Anderson said there were only 329 new building permits issued for Clark County new home construction in October, a decrease of 80.6 percent from a year ago.

Employment in the casino and hotel industry totaled 172,400 in Clark County in October, down 600 workers from a year ago and 200 from the previous month.

Manufacturing employment in Clark County fell to 25,900, down 400 workers from September; But the number of jobs in trade, transportation and utilities, rose to 164,300, an increase of 2,200 workers from a year ago.

Statewide, Anderson said the state’s leisure and hospitality industry added 1,200 compared to October 2007. “However, casino hotel and gaming job levels (statewide) are actually down by 2,300 relative to a year ago, a reflection of the impacts of the global economic slowdown on Nevada Business.”

The department said that unemployment in October in Washoe County rose to 7.2 percent, up from 6.8 percent in September and 4.4 percent a year ago.

The jobless rate in Carson City was 7.4 percent last month, up one-tenth of a percent from September. The highest rate in Nevada was 10 percent in Nye County followed by 9.5 percent in Lyon County.

The lowest jobless rate in October was 4.1 percent in Elko County with Lander County at 4.3 percent.

Cy Ryan may be reached at (775) 687 5032 or cy@lasvegassun.com.

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By davidwayneosedach

11/22/08 at 11:31 a.m.

Suggest removal

Not quite as bad(yet) as California, but getting there. A year from now umnemployment will unfortunately be hovering around 10%.
By joncmac

11/23/08 at 2:39 a.m.

Suggest removal

7.5%. Wow. Pretty high...However, there is some good news. Maybe suprisingly there are more "real" companies, like Hilton Hotels, hiring employees for work from home jobs in a trend called "onshoring", even in todays slowing economy. I found this site has some recent articles on the trend as well as opportunities for working from home, as well as ways how to get help to save on bills, like mortgage, utility bills, and others.
http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/...
By fremmasmind

11/23/08 at 7:27 a.m.

Suggest removal

When are the citizens of our great state going to start screaming for all employers to use the e-verify database at homeland security on new hires and existing employees. This system has been found 99.9% effective. If we want our unemployment to come down we have got to take this first step. Putting the middle class American back to work and taking the illegals out of our work force has got to be the first step to getting some of our citizens off unemployment. The construction industry and the casinos' would be the first place to start.
By azsk8fan

11/23/08 at 8:40 a.m.

Suggest removal

My friend works in the kitchen of a casino buffet and she is one of the few who speak English - the kitchen is loaded with non-english speaking Mexicans - now how can one be old enough to work and not know any English? Born and raised here? Seriously doubt it - here legally? Seriously doubt it..........And we wonder why ID Theft is running rampant? How do you think the illegals get these jobs? Think about it. If we round them up and send them back we can hire Americans and we will probably see the crime of ID Theft decrease as well. A true win-win situation.
By all4good

12/19/08 at 7:14 p.m.

Suggest removal

I am a single mother of 4 children. Once married to an illegal alien. My first husband who had his papers was deported. The second one who is illegal doesn't even pay child support, he flat out refuses. I moved here to be closer to family so that I could get the help I need with the kids since I'm actively seeking my degree. Do you think I can find a job. NO. I have really good skills from my last job and great referrances. I've started to get desperate and started applying at fast food restraunts last week. Haven't heard a thing back yet even though I was a manager in several restraunts. You know why because there is a mass over flow of applicants in every position. What really hurts me as an Citizen is that during my visits at most of the restraunts I've been to...just as the two before me have stated. Non-English speaking individuals. I was making over $15/hour in Utah. To support my family I'd be willing to lower that as far as minimum wage as long as my kids have food for their mouths and have a place to sleep that is warm. I never complained when the economy was good but in desperate situations when our OWN CITIZENS are suffering so bad IT IS WAY PAST TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I stood in line with about 150 other applicants at Walgreens during their open house. HOW LONG DO THEY WAIT? UNTIL WE ARE ALL HOMELESS STANDING IN A LINE IN FRONT OF A SHELTER SOUP KITCHEN? As citizens we should be priorty hands down!! Those whom employee these individuals in times like this SHOULD BE VERY ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES!! Also those who are laying people off and adding to the problem, should in turn lower the wages of all. Give them a choice...lower wages or a lay off. At least then they have an option.