Las Vegas, state jobless rate hits 10.4 percent

By Cy Ryan

Friday, April 17, 2009 | 7:33 a.m.

CARSON CITY – Unemployment rose to 10.4 percent in the Las Vegas area in March, the third straight month of double-digit joblessness, according to a state report released today.

There were 104,100 persons out of work, an increase of 1,600 from the previous month.

The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation also reported today that, statewide, the jobless rate also rose to 10.4 percent, the highest it has been since March 1983. Statewide, there were 146,200 out of work.

The national average unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in March.

Bill Anderson, chief economist for the department, said the rate would have been higher if not for a decline in the labor force.

“Nearly 14,000 Nevada workers dropped out of the labor force from the previous month, mostly were likely too discouraged to actively seek employment,” Anderson said.

“Employers in the Las Vegas-Paradise area have shed roughly 48,000 jobs over the last year, a 5.2 percent decline,” Anderson said. Total employment in the area was 875,700, compared to 923,600 in March 2008.

Construction employment in the Las Vegas area dropped to 81,200 or 1,000 lower than the previous month of February. A year ago there were 94,700 persons employed in the construction industry.

The number of people working in the hotel-casino business fell to 156,400, or 1,500 less than in the previous month. And that’s 13,400 fewer people working in that industry than a year ago.

Employment in manufacturing in the Las Vegas area actually increased by 100 workers to 24,200. But it was 6.2 percent lower than a year ago in the same month.

The trade, transportation utility sector reported 156,100 employed during March, down 5,500 from a year ago. But it was 100 workers higher than in February.

The department reported the unemployment rate in the Reno-Sparks area remained at 11.2 percent and stayed at 11.3 percent in Carson City. One bright spot was Elko where the jobless rate fell to 6.2 percent, down two-tenths of a percent.

Anderson said, “Over the year, total non-farm employment has fallen by 67,400 jobs or 5.3 percent.”

“Earlier this decade, all regions within the state benefitted from Nevada’s strong economic growth,” Anderson said. “Over the 2002-2007 period, job growth ranged from 6.1 percent in Carson City to 27 percent in the Las Vegas region. However since then each of Nevada’s three metropolitan areas as well as the state as a whole, have recorded job losses.”

-- Cy Ryan may be reached at (775) 687 5032 or [email protected].