For the 13th straight month, Nevada has seen positive job growth. But the state's unemployment rate also ticked up. The Silver State's unemployment rate sits at 12%. That's up 0.4%, since June. Reno and Sparks is up from 11.7% to 12%. Carson City is up half a point to 12.2%. Las Vegas saw the largest uptick from 12.2% to 12.9%. Even Elko County saw its unemployment rate jump up to 6.7% from 6.3%.
But we're not alone. 44 states across the country saw their unemployment rate increase. 31 saw their job levels increase.
Over the past year, Nevada's economy has added more than 10,000 jobs. While that's a good sign, more people are also looking for work.
"We're going to see some good news, some bad news," Nevada's Chief Economist Bill Anderson said. "But overall, I think it's the trend of moderate improvement."
Most of our job growth is coming from the leisure and hospitality sector, especially in Las Vegas, even though Sin City still leads the state's three population centers in joblessness.
"Folks are becoming more confident than in the economic situation but at the same time, they haven't become exuberant and we're seeing relatively restrained spending levels, once they get here," Anderson said.
Nevada's rural counties are seeing the lowest unemployment rate. Several of them are dominated by the booming mining industry, which employs more than 16,000 people.
"Mining employment did hit an all-time high during the month of July," Anderson said.
Construction is still stagnant. And while the worst may be behind us, economists say the best we can hope for is for that industry to hold it's own.
Chad Pierce has a construction background but hasn't had any luck finding work. So, he does handy work and other jobs to get by, and goes to Nevada Job Connect to advertise his skills.
"I went from maybe a couple jobs a week to now I'm picking up four or five jobs during the week and it's enough to maintain my living costs," Pierce said.
In the past month, Dan Hill has been part of both the unemployed category, and the job growth category. With 30 years of sales experience, he was getting passed up on jobs he expected to get. Now, he has work again.
"It's been hard but I've kept persistently coming here, with a good attitude, and I knew something would happen and turn around, and it has," Hill said.
About 163,700 other Nevadans are hoping for the same outcome. Nevada has had the highest unemployment rate in the country, since May of 2010. But we are seeing drops overall. Comparing this July to last July the state is down 1.4%.
Written by Paul Nelson
Gov. Brian Sandoval says he's encouraged by the modest job growth, but says the higher unemployment rate is evidence that the state needs to continue trying to attract new businesses.
Nevada Senator Harry Reid issued the following statement on Nevada's unemployment:
"I am disappointed that after nearly a year of steady decline, Nevada's unemployment rate has increased. We must not relent until our state is back on track and all hard-working Nevadans who want jobs have one. Democrats have been working hard to pass commonsense measures that will strengthen America's small businesses and expand the middle class. However, my Republican colleagues consistently refuse to work with us to secure our nation's long-term recovery. Earlier this month, the Senate passed a bill that would prevent middle-class families' and 98 percent of Americans' taxes from rising in January, but unfortunately Republicans instead decided to demand additional tax cuts for America's wealthiest individuals. Our focus should be on protecting and strengthening the Nevada's middle class, not imposing additional challenges that will inhibit our state's potential. I will continue to protect Nevada's middle class and work to pass measures that create jobs in our state. The Senate will soon vote on the Veterans Jobs Corps Act which will help create jobs for Nevada servicemen and women and enable them to put their sought-after professional skills into action. I hope my Republican colleagues put politics aside and join Democrats in this effort."
Senator Dean Heller issued this statement:
"This stagnant economy is further proof that the policies coming from Washington are failing. The President's healthcare law, stimulus, and constant threat of tax increases have stifled economic growth and job creation. These policies are making a tough situation worse. Nevadans have waited far too long for the President and Congress to deliver solutions - solutions that will create certainty for both individuals and businesses. Unfortunately, all the American people have received are broken promises and empty rhetoric. It's past time we move our nation in a new direction. By reforming the tax code, reigning in burdensome regulations, and helping families stay in their homes, we can create an environment that encourages long-term economic growth and creates the jobs Nevadans have been asking for," said Senator Dean Heller.
U.S. Senate candidate Shelley Berkley released this following statement:
"This is yet another example of why Washington politicians like Senator Dean Heller, Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney should be more focused on creating jobs rather than implementing their plan to end Medicare by turning it over to private insurance companies. Unfortunately, instead of joining me in the fight to cut taxes for small businesses and middle-class families, crack down on unfair trade policies cheating American workers out of thousands of jobs and work to make Nevada the clean energy jobs capital of America, the Heller-Ryan-Romney plan calls for more tax breaks for Wall Street millionaires, corporations that ship American jobs overseas and Big Oil companies making record profits. It's long past time that Washington stopped looking out for the big guys that don't need our help and start delivering for middle-class families."
