Initial Nevada unemployment claims fall 23 percent in May

Associated Press

Thursday, June 19, 2014 | 9:48 a.m.

CARSON CITY — Initial claims for unemployment insurance in Nevada fell 23 percent in May compared with the same month last year.

Officials with the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation said Thursday that about 12,500 claims were filed last month. The number of claims filed is averaging about 14,000 per month so far this year.

The decline reflects a “broad, ongoing improvement in Nevada’s labor market," according to the agency.

Initial claims peaked during the recession at more than 36,000 in December 2008.

The number of claims has fallen year-over year for 18 straight months and in 51 of the past 54 months.

State economist Bill Anderson says initial claims for jobless benefits tend to increase during the fall and winter months and then fall in the spring and summer.

Las Vegas Sun reporter Cy Ryan contributed to this report.