Friday, April 19, 2013 | 11:33 a.m.
CARSON CITY — Nevada’s unemployment rate inched up to 9.7 percent in March from the previous month, the first time in 20 months that the state has seen a month-to-month increase.
Nevada’s rate continues to exceed the national rate of 7.6 percent.
The state Employment, Training and Rehabilitation Department reported today the rate is lower than the 11.6 percent rate of a year ago and shows Nevada is slowly recovering from the recession.
Clark County’s jobless rate held steady at 9.8 percent in March, the same as in February, with an estimated 97,700 people out of work. Statewide, there were 132,900 people out of work.
Gov. Brian Sandoval said, “Nevada’s economy has been improving and, overall, I’m pleased with the general direction of the state’s labor market.
“So far this year, unemployment is down roughly 2 percent and preliminary estimates show that we have created 25,000 more jobs to date than we had at this point last year.”
Total employment statewide reached 1,241,400, up from February’s 1,240,500, when the jobless rate was 9.6 percent.
Department economist Bill Anderson said, “So far this year, job growth appears to be slowing a bit after exceeding expectations in the second half of 2012.”
In the Las Vegas market, construction jobs dropped from 37,200 in February to 36,200 in March; manufacturing grew by 100 jobs to 20,100.
Jobs in trade, transportation and utilities increased to 154,800 in March, a gain of 400 from the previous month. Hotels and casinos in the Las Vegas provided 176,700 jobs, 500 more than the previous month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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