Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Las Vegas jobless rate dips to 13.3 percent in March

CARSON CITY – Employment in the Las Vegas area increased by more than 10,000 jobs in March -- the first increase in 38 months.

The additional jobs helped to bring down the unemployment rate down to 13.3 percent, the lowest mark since August 2010.

The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported today the Nevada jobless rate fell to 13.2 percent, down from 13.6 percent in February. There were 1,114,400 Nevadans with jobs, an increase of more than 10,000 from a month earlier.

”Nevada's labor markets showed signs of life in March, hinting what may be the beginnings of an economic recovery,” says Bill Anderson, chief economist of the department. Employment increased on a over-the year basis for the first time since January 2008.

The leisure and hospitality industry provided the most new jobs in the past year, Anderson said. He noted that visitor volume in Las Vegas has increased 17 of the past 18 months.

"The opening of the Cosmopolitan added a good portion of those jobs but many others have been created in response to increased demand from consumers," he said.

Employment in the Las Vegas area reached 803,400 in March, up from 793,300 in February.

Casinos and hotels reported 153,900 employed in the Las Vegas area in March, a gain of 1,900 from February.

Construction employment in the Las Vegas area grew to 40,700, up 300 from the previous month.

Manufacturing produced 18,200 jobs in the Las Vegas area, the same as in February. The trade, transportation and utilities industries has 143,500 on the job, 1,000 more than the previous month.

The jobless rate in Washoe County inched down to 13.1 percent compared to 13.2 percent in February. Carson City unemployment declined from 13.5 percent in February to 13.2 percent in March.

Statewide, there were 312,900 working in the leisure and hospitality industry, up 4,600 from February. Since March 2010, the industry has added 7,100 jobs, with most of those coming from accommodation and food services, Anderson said.

The department said statewide numbers show that construction, which lost more jobs than any other industry, continues to shed workers. The industry is down 3,400 workers from the same time last year.

High gold prices have kept the mining industry humming. The unemployment rate in counties heavy in mining was 7.9 percent in March, more than 5 percent lower than the statewide average.

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