Nevada jobless rate down to 7.3 percent in September

Associated Press

Published Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 | 8:08 a.m.

Updated Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 | 4:11 p.m.

Nevada's unemployment rate fell in September to its lowest level in more than six years.

The state's seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 7.3 percent in September, the lowest since July 2008, according to statistics released Friday by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. The state's job count is up 38,000 compared with last September, even though it's down by 1,800 jobs compared with this August.

"We are growing in key economic sectors and more Nevadans are once again finding good jobs," Gov. Brian Sandoval said in a statement. "Our economy is showing positive signs, but we must remain diligent in our economic and workforce development efforts."

State economist Bill Anderson said construction is the fastest-growing sector in the state after growing 12.8 percent over last year. Nevada's largest industry, leisure and hospitality, was up 1.3 percent from last September after adding 4,100 jobs.

Mining, which lost 200 jobs, and government, which lost 600 jobs, are the only sectors that declined year-over-year.

If the state stays on pace for the rest of the year, Nevada will have added about 100,000 jobs from 2010 through 2014, Anderson said.

Regional jobless rates, which aren't seasonally adjusted like the statewide figure, also fell. Las Vegas' unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in September, down from 7.7 percent in August. Reno's rate dropped 0.5 percentage points to 6.4 percent, while Carson City's rate dropped from 7.5 percent to 7.1 percent.