Las Vegas jobless rate at 14.7 percent in August

By Cy Ryan

Published Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 | 6:35 a.m.

Updated Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 | 6:48 a.m.

CARSON CITY – The unemployment rate showed a slight dip in the Las Vegas area in August with an increase in those finding construction jobs.

The Las Vegas area posted a 14.7 percent jobless rate, down one-tenth of a percent from July, but it was the 20th consecutive month of double-digit joblessness.

The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported today that the jobless rate statewide rose to 14.4 percent, up one-tenth of a percent.

The department said seasonable improvement in the Las Vegas metro area pushed the unemployment rate down. The number of people employed in construction rose to 47,100, up 400 workers.

Manufacturing employment in Las Vegas remained at 19,700. There was a 700-job increase in the trade, transportation and utilities sector to 144,100. But casino-hotels dropped to 153,800, down 600 workers from July.

The department said governments shed 2,700 jobs. But these were partially offset by small improvements in a variety of industries, most notably construction, education and health services in the Las Vegas area.

Statewide, the unemployment rate of 14.4 percent was well above the national average of 9.6 percent. Nevada's rate was the highest in the nation.

Bill Anderson, chief economist for the department said, “The hot summer days of August did little to stimulate Nevada’s economic futures.

“Private employers (statewide) added 2,300 jobs, which offset a reduction of 3,000 jobs in the public sector,” Anderson said. The end of the census count started layoffs for about 1,900 workers while local governments shed about 1,000 jobs due to budget cuts.

The unemployment rate in the Reno area declined three-tenths of a percent to 13.3 percent. Carson City’s jobless rate fell one-tenth of a percent to 13.1 percent in August. The Elko area reported a drop of unemployment by three-tenths of a percent.

Anderson said statistics show younger workers ages 14-24 have a higher turnover. In the Las Vegas area, the turnover rate for young workers is 22 percent.

He said another factor is older workers are entering the job market due to the recessionary factors.