Las Vegas jobless rate in March unchanged from previous month

By Cy Ryan

Tuesday, April 21, 2015 | 4:09 p.m.

CARSON CITY — The Las Vegas jobless rate in March remained stable at 7.2 percent compared to the previous month, with an estimated 73,800 people out of work, the state reported today.

But the rate was 1.2 percent lower than in March 2014, according to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

The construction industry gained 100 jobs from February to a total of 49,700 and employment in hotels and casinos was up 900 workers to 165,100 compared to the previous month.

The trade sector in Las Vegas employed 162,900, down 900 workers from the previous month, and manufacturing dropped 200 workers to 20,900.

The previously reported state rate also remained at 7.2 percent.

Bill Anderson, chief economist for the department, said Las Vegas gained 23,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

“Looking at historical employment trends, evidence of Nevada’s economic recovery is readily apparent, especially in the Las Vegas and Reno areas,” Anderson said.

The jobless rate in the Reno-Sparks area, meanwhile, dropped from 7.1 percent to 6.9 percent from February to March, and Carson City’s rate was down to 7.8 percent from 8.1 percent in February.

The lowest rate in the state was 3.6 percent in Esmeralda County and the highest was 11.6 percent in Mineral County.