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Nevada Job Connect in December 2008, months after the nation’s economy began to sputter.
Published Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 | 10:26 a.m.
Updated Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 | 12:24 p.m.
Sun Topics
CARSON CITY – Unemployment in the Las Vegas area jumped to a record 14.9 percent in December with an estimated 142,500 people looking for a job.
The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported today the statewide rate escalated to a high of 14.5 percent with an estimated 193,000 unemployed. Record highs also were set in the Reno-Sparks area and Carson City.
Bill Anderson, chief economist for the department, said Nevada employers reported improvements while results of a household survey for unemployment showed the opposite. But Anderson said the labor market is starting to stabilize in Nevada.
“It will simply be a long process to reverse the damage caused by the recession over the past few years.
Employers added 2,700 jobs statewide during the holiday shopping season, compared to December 2009 when employers laid off 3,500.
The unemployment rate in the Las Vegas area rose from 14.3 percent in November to 14.9 percent in December. Total employment fell from 819,400 in November to 813,100 in December.
Construction employment in the Las Vegas area fell to 44,100, down 1,400 jobs from the previous month. There were 300 fewer jobs in manufacturing, where 19,300 were employed.
But utilities, transportation and trade jobs rose in Southern Nevada from 145,000 in November to 146,200 in December.
Employment in the hotel and casino industry inched up from 154,200 in November to 154,300 in December, likely due to hiring at the new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas resort.
The department said unemployment in the Reno-Sparks area hit 13.8 percent. It was 14 percent in Carson City. The U.S. rate was 9.1 percent and California’s was 12.4 percent.
Anderson said a number of factors will determine the future health of the labor market.
“We must watch the trends over a period of time before making a solid prediction of which way the unemployment rate will go,” he said. “At this point it is reasonable to expect the rate will not be as volatile as in the past.”
Nevada’s delegation in Washington collectively mourned the snap back to a higher unemployment rate.
“Today’s deeply disappointing unemployment figures reconfirm the need to focus like a laser on creating jobs for out-of-work Nevadans struggling to make ends meet,” said Senator Harry Reid. “One way to strengthen Nevada’s economy is to end the political grandstanding on repealing health insurance reform and for everyone to turn their full attention to ensuring every Nevadan who wants to work has that opportunity.”
“Today’s unemployment numbers underscore the need to create stability and foster an environment for economic growth here in our state,” said Rep. Joe Heck. “There is temptation to blame one party or another; one person or another; but we cannot fall into that trap. The quickest way to a strong and vibrant economy is together.”
Sun reporter Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report.
Thank goodness for those non living wage, bathroom cleaning casino jobs.. Without those it would have been worse.
Don't look to Reid. He's playing Healthcare revival again.
Isn't part of the reason why the unemployment rate rose due to more unemployed Nevadans activily seeking employment? If you're not seeking a job you don't get included in the unemployment statistic.
We dont need more progressive help. When you refuse 3800 jobs, you can't expect any simpathy from anyone else.
This number will grow unfortunately, January's numbers will be more job losses as retailer cut back post Christmas. More pain comin folks.
Thank God we have all those new jobs coming from California because of our low business tax rate and an attractive economic climate.
Are they here yet? No? There must have been an accident on I-15 that's slowing down traffic. I'm sure they'll be here soon. Just keep your eye on the horizon.
You Bozos! The only reason we're keeping the tax rate low is so that current business owners can make more profit. Nobody is going to move their business to Nevada and they know it . . . and they don't care. Why would they want market competition for our uneducated workforce? Low demand means low wages.
We've created the perfect economic climate. Sandoval's masters are very fat and happy.
Agree TonyV. If they were relocating here, they'd already be here. It's not just about lower taxes that entices. With smaller workforces there is more demand for higher educated, competent, go getters who can do more. You are not going to find them here. There's a few, but they are outnumbered by all the high school dropouts who can't put a sentence together if their life depended on it.
Teachers should be telling students DON'T borrow money to go to college. You CANNOT declare bankruptcy on a student loan. College DOES NOT lead to opportunities--it leads to a lifetime of debt.
Brian sandoval is deatroying any hope for a recovery. He will fight for more tax breaks for the rich and prevent any new opportunites for the rest of us.
Impeach Sandoval!
Hey Nevada! There is no sense to shoot yourself in the foot! Translation: If you are serious about the job propects in this state you need to let your representatives in Nevada act like they are out for your interest! We need to implement E- Verify! Just think how many jobs can be available to all of us if we say NO to illegal immigration!!
manfromuncle1,
There is no disputing that college grads to significantly better than non graduates. They make significantly more money are employed in much higher numbers. So I have to disagree with your comments. By choosing the right school and the right degree, students will generally do better with a degree, even if they have to borrow to get it.
The problem is that a lot of students pay way more than they need to by going to a private school or an out of state school. Once they are enrolled, they seek worthless degrees like Sociology or Political Science. Then they screw around and don't graduate for six years.
If a student were to start at a junior college, then transfer to a four year school in state, and then get a degree like engineering, business management, nursing, etc., they will do light years better in their lifetime than someone who does not get a degree--even if they borrow.
No one can do more...
The anti-business radio station, kxnt, blares the Dave RAMSEY'S Show every night 6-10 PM. He says don't spend money, don't go out to eat, stay home and eat beans and rice, and "gambling is stupid." No wonder the economy is down.
It used to be that radio stations would back the local economy, not any more I guess.
jlykins
if you can not compete with an illegal alien, you need to get more education and better job skills.
The reason employers dont come to Nevada is the low skill set thinks they should be hired, health care paid, and tno one should demand intelligent workers. If all you can do is serve food, you will be replaced.
Wake up YOU are the problem.
Will the unemployed get fined under Obamacare for not having health insurance?
LVLawDog - What do people with Sociology and Political Science degrees do for their careers? Teach Sociology and Political Science! LOL
The firefighters are doing fine.
The county manager has no problems.
The Food Bank Bandit over at Three Squares isn't worried.
Why the scary story?
Obama's been in office for over two years. Bush is long gone and out of blame's way. Harry Reid has been re-elected. (He'll save us.) The liberals will take care of it, they've got it under control.
All the commies from California abandoned ship after they destroyed that state and came here with a how-to-lose-your-nuts team of experts. Most of them take up advisory panel right here at the Sun parking lot.
The Las Vegas Sun doesn't bother reporting any scary news that would alarm the Animal Farm characters, like the story out of PA about the abortion baby butcher. (They are green and won't waste any newsprint on minor horror stories that threaten liberal ideals.)
The commies are safe as a squirrel-buried nut that'll never again be found.
What are we worried about? 15% unemployment is a drop in the bucket.
To those of you tolerating the taunts from people, who are still safe in little bubbles with cushions.
2011 is going to be a bubble-busting year.
Education & work experience are becoming less of a factor, as computers replace even people, this year.
A college educations has already become much less valuable than street smarts and survival savvy.
The dramatically reduced spending that is in swing will even FURTHER reduce jobs through 2011 unless something new comes to town.
Been checking the newspapers and local rags diligently and...nothing new yet.
No...this is NOT a recession or depression.
This is something new, exciting...and deadly.
lalawdog--I didn't say don't go to college--I said DON'T borrow money to go to college. Just take one class per semester if that's all you can afford. Borrowing money with a student loan is like borrowing from the Mafia and most people don't know that. Read this recent story in the NY Times about people with law school debt, and the whole law school racket. Really shocking stuff. Now even some law school professors think law schools need to be more honest with students about the current dismal job opportunities for law school grads.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/busine...
Vegas is already where pretty much the rest of the US is heading. We are becoming a nation of service area employed citizens. High paying jobs are drying up. It's not going to be pretty. If people don't have money, they can't buy. The economy stays stagnant. I don't see wages going up anytime soon. There's too many unemployed to choose from. If prices go up, (look out for gas hikes)the hole deepens. We're going to be in this mess for a long time I think.
Cliffy my man, my forecast the coming deluge from the Repukes elected to congress will increase the deficit while saying they want to decrease it and will fail to make cuts. Good luck!
Whether you are employed or unemployed, you must buy insurance under the Obamacare plan.
If you don't buy, you will be fined and eventually jailed if you continue not to buy.
It's a shame that in one week 1000 jobs were offered by Station casinos and the following week 700 jobs were lost by the Ford credit layoffs..Well at least there is a net gain of 300 jobs..
Hey Tommy Boy, that sounds like a nice crystal ball you have. Typical lib, divert the issue and babble about things with no factual base.
Hey Sun, how is it that a number of my comments are NOT on the trusted page but on the secondary page? I have checked with others to be sure it is not just my computer?
There are a number of articles in which this is so for my comments.
I use my real name. I provided the "trusted" qualifications.
Now I want to know, do mred, gmag39, vegaslee all work for you?
When are you going to make full name only policy for trusted page?