Unemployment dips in the Las Vegas area

By Cy Ryan

Monday, Nov. 21, 2011 | 11:12 a.m.

CARSON CITY – The unemployment rate in the Las Vegas area in October fell to 13.1 percent, the lowest since May, according to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. The statewide jobless rate remained at 13.4 percent.

Gov. Brian Sandoval said the October figures “demonstrate growth in key industries and certain areas, and the overall stability is a sign that job losses may have come to an end.”

Bill Anderson, chief economist for the department, said the state can expect employment to see modest growth in the year ahead.

Job numbers picked up in hotels, casinos, manufacturing, utilities and trade during the month, compared to September.

In Clark County, the casinos, hotels and gaming segment recorded a gain in employment of 2,100 for a total of 163,300 jobs for October. Manufacturing rose by 200 jobs to 18,500. Utilities, trade and transportation registered 800 new jobs, bringing the number to 144,300.

The soft spot continues to be in construction, where 700 jobs were lost, bringing the number to 41,200.

The unemployment rate in Clark County was the lowest since the 12.4 percent recorded in May. The number of jobless last month fell to 123,600, down by 5,800 workers.

“The numbers prove that we must continue our efforts to fight back from this recession job by job and company by company," Sandoval said. "There is a role for each one of us to help get Nevada working again.”

The department said the statewide unemployment inched down by 300 workers to 176,400.

Unemployment in the Reno-Sparks area declined to 12.1 percent, compared to 12.6 percent in September. Carson City’s rate also dropped to 12 percent compared to 12.4 percent in September. And the jobless rate in the Elko area dropped from 7.1 percent in September to 6.7 percent in October.

“Overall, there are some positives in this month’s number but for a state looking to bounce back from a deep recession, the numbers leave considerable room for improvement,” Anderson said.