Las Vegas’ unemployment rate falls to 7 percent in August

By Cy Ryan

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 | 2:53 p.m.

Unemployment in Las Vegas inched down from 7.1 percent in July to 7 percent in August.

The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation on Tuesday released the breakdown of counties' jobless rates, which found 73,400 unemployed people in Southern Nevada — 1,000 fewer than in July.

However, the report showed 975,900 people employed in the region, 2,500 fewer than in July.

The statewide unemployment rate was 6.8 percent compared with 5.1 percent nationally.

Construction employment in the Las Vegas area tapered off in August to 51,300, down from July’s 52,700. The leisure and hospitality sector had a 1,100-worker increase to 289,900 in the month-to-month comparison.

The department said the number of jobs in trade, transportation and utilities stood at 162,900 compared with 163,500 in July in Las Vegas. Professional and business services reported 123,000 on the job, or 2,100 more than in July.

Unemployment in the Reno-Sparks area decreased from 6.3 percent in July to 6.1 percent in August. Carson City posted a 7.1 percent jobless rate, down from 7.2 percent in July. Elko County’s rate fell from 5.2 percent in July to 4.9 percent in August.

The department said the lowest rate was 4.3 percent in Esmeralda County, and the highest was 10.6 percent in Mineral County.