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Friday, May 18, 2012 | 9:25 a.m.
CARSON CITY — The unemployment rate in the Las Vegas area fell to 11.6 percent in April, the lowest point in three years, as job growth picked up in the state and Southern Nevada.
The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported there were 811,800 people employed last month, 4,000 more than on the job in March in Clark County.
The unemployment rate is the lowest since May 2009, when an 11.1 percent unemployment rate was posted in Clark County. The number of jobless in April was 113,600, or 4,100 lower than the previous month.
Statewide, the unemployment rate dipped to 11.7 percent, also its lowest rate in three years.
Gov. Brian Sandoval said the state “has recorded year-over-year private sector job gains every month since early 2011, a clear sign that we are slowly but steadily working our way toward a stronger economy.”
Construction employment in the Las Vegas area increased to 35,000 in April, up 200 jobs from March, officials said. The biggest gain was recorded in the utilities, transportation and trade sector, which rose to 151,100 people employed, a gain of 2,500 jobs.
The hotel-casino segment dropped 100 workers from March to 164,100 in April. Manufacturing employment inched up to 19,700, an increase of 200 from March.
The department said the unemployment rate in Washoe County fell from 12 percent in March to 11.4 percent in April. Carson City’s jobless rate declined from 12.4 percent in March to 11.8 percent in April.
But Nevada’s unemployment rate still exceeds the national rate of 8.1 percent.
Bill Anderson, chief economist for the department, said while the job growth has been good, there have been other factors in the decline of unemployment.
At the beginning of the recession, 67.8 percent of Nevada’s population was in the labor force, either employed or unemployed. It is now 64.9 percent.
Anderson said this suggests workers are dropping out of the labor force and are not counted among the unemployed.
These unemployment statistics don't mean much, especially since the long unemployed, discouraged and those no longer eligible for unemployment benefits are not counted. Reports like this simply mislead and fail to describe the extent of economic damage the Las Vegas Valley is experiencing.
Sandoval taking credit for nothing. Maybe he should be unemployed. But wait that will never happen. He's had everything given to him on a silver platter with regards to his public life. In my day leaders had to earn their keep like I did fighting leading the Army against the English and serving as the first president.
Mr. Ryan why would you even write an article like this when we all know that un-employment FAR exceeds the percentage that you tell in this article. Just more spin to make us all think things are looking up? Sorry to say we all aren't that dumb.
Agree with you oldPSUguy. This article is wasted space.
The more than 4,000 jobs ADDED to Clark County IN ONE MONTH means 4,000 households that are now off (or mostly off) the govt dole and are contributing to the local economy.
How do you babies get out of the bed every morning when news like this is still depressing?
Anderson said this suggests workers are dropping out of the labor force and are not counted among the unemployed.[Sic]
Or maybe it's because more people are visiting Las Vegas and the employers are hiring again.
What does one expect? The amount of jobs fell as far as they could unless more businesses went belly-up, so now the rate has stabilized. Big deal! For the most part, the resorts are not calling back laid off employees unless it's to replace normal attrition or to fill in for sick or on-vaction employees. They've found they can make 2 employees do the work of 3 or maybe 4. Customer service has suffered but the "suits" in the back offices don't give a rats-ass. All they care about is bottom-line and their bonuses. And the cowardly Culinary Union, shaking in its boots over the upcoming contract negotiations, looks the other way. Caught in the middle are those employees who have to stay at the job no matter the stress put upon them and the indifference of the union.
Most of our country is doing so much better than LV that it would make your heart soar to see all the potential money people are raking in...elsewhere.
You know, where diversified opportunities from specialists with education and experience doing things are enjoying their lives spending their moments in pursuit of challenge and satisfaction besides flipping cards over, getting drinks, ripping off their clothes and cleaning rooms.
Land of opportunity...for Wynn and Adelson, attorneys handling bankruptcies and liquor sales.
If you want a life, look around.
OR..
..stay where you are and enjoy the beautiful bright lights and all the great action!