Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Nevada jobless level nears 20%; extended benefits triggered

Coronavirus

John Locher / AP

In this March 17, 2020 file photo, people wait in line for help with unemployment benefits at the One-Stop Career Center in Las Vegas.

Updated Friday, May 1, 2020 | 12:37 p.m.

Unemployment benefits in Nevada are being extended for a second 13 weeks, officials said today, as the wave of workers idled by casino and business closures in response to the coronavirus outbreak spiked the state jobless figure to 19.9%.

 “Nevada has now met the thresholds required to trigger extended benefits,” the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation said in a statement.

Extended benefits provide 13 additional weeks of payments to people who exhaust regular state unemployment and pandemic emergency benefits, the statement said.

The number of Nevadans who have filed for unemployment benefits this year recently crossed the 400,000 mark, the department reported.

Through the week that ended April 25, more than 412,000 initial claims for unemployment benefits were recorded.

Just over 42,500 people filed first-time claims during that week that ended April 25, up nearly 8% from the previous week, the department said.

Just four months into the year, the number of claims set a new annual record for the state. In January and February, the state unemployment rate was a lowest-ever 3.6%.

Gov. Steve Sisolak on Thursday announced the relaxing of some emergency measures enacted in mid-March, but he said businesses, including casinos, would remain closed for at least the next two weeks.

A statewide stay at home order is also in effect through May 15.

Las Vegas Sun reporter Bryan Horwath and the Associated Press contributed to this report.