Jobless rate climbs to 13.8 percent in Las Vegas area

By Cy Ryan

Monday, March 8, 2010 | 6:53 a.m.

CARSON CITY – The jobless rate in the Las Vegas area jumped to 13.8 percent in January, the 13th consecutive month of double-digit unemployment.

Hardest hit was the construction industry, where employment fell from 63,000 in December 2009 to 51,700 in January. But there was a rebound in gaming employment in January with 151,200 on the job, compared to 146,200 in December.

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported today that statewide, the seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 13 percent with an estimated 187,700 people out of work. The 13 percent compares to the national average of 9.7 percent for January.

In the Las Vegas area there were an estimated 135,900 workers jobless, compared to 128,200 in December. The department said manufacturing employment dropped from 22,900 in December to 20,300. Employment in utilities, transportation and trade declined from 154,500 in December to 142,000 in January.

The department said the Reno-Sparks area posted a 13.5 percent jobless rate, up from 12.7 percent in December. Carson City’s unemployment rate grew from 12.7 percent in December to 13.8 percent in January. The jobless rate in Elko rose to 8.1 percent compared to 7.1 percent in December.

William Anderson, chief economist for the department, said “as usual in January employers made seasonal cuts to employment, though this year’s decline was not as drastic as last year’s.”

The Las Vegas area lost 17,100 jobs, Reno-Sparks lost 7,100 and Carson City lost 900.

Anderson said, “Due to the nature of the recession, particularly the negative effect on the construction sector, a traditionally male-dominated industry, some have come to term the downturn as a ‘mancession.’”

The unemployment rate for the state’s male population averaged about 13.4 percent in the 12 months ending in January. The rate for women was 9.4 percent.

Anderson said one year ago the male and female jobless rates were “roughly equal.”

He also said the unemployment rate has hit hardest at the black population, at 18.2 percent in the past 12 months. The jobless rate among Hispanics was 17 percent. The unemployment rate for white Nevadans stood at 11.4 percent for the past 12 months.