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Aug. 16, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NEVADA ECONOMY: Unemployment up statewide

LV jobless rate 6.8 percent in July; Nevada level at 6.6 percent

By JOHN G. EDWARDS
REVIEW-JOURNAL



The Las Vegas jobless rate worsened by three-tenths of a percent, reaching 6.8 percent in July -- more than 1 percentage point higher than the national average, the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation disclosed Friday.

The unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in June this year and 5.1 percent in July last year.

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    • The number of unemployed in the Las Vegas area grew by 27,000 from a year ago to 94,900.

    Meanwhile, Nevada's statewide unemployment rate hit 6.6 percent, compared with 6.4 percent last month and 4.9 percent in July last year. The statewide number also is higher than the 5.7 percent national average, according to the employment department.

    Reno area unemployment ran 6.5 percent, up from 6.4 percent in June. Carson City jobless rates were unchanged at 6.6 percent, and the Elko area's unemployment dipped to 4 percent from 4.1 percent in June.

    The national and statewide numbers are seasonally adjusted, but the city jobless rates are not.

    The department didn't distribute a statement on unemployment, and an economist referred a caller to chief economist William Anderson who didn't return a call for comment late Friday.

    Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons, however, issued a statement calling the state's economic condition "difficult" and repeating his commitment not to raise taxes.

    "It's important that state government do everything it can to encourage the creation of new jobs and attract new businesses to Nevada," Gibbons said. "This includes resisting pressures to increase taxes on business to meet the state's revenue shortfall, which would put even greater strains on already struggling companies and put more Nevadans out of work."

    However, state statistics show that employment in the Las Vegas area grew by 3 percent to 932,800 in July from the same month last year.

    Air transportation and warehousing, which employs 5,800 workers, added 26.1 percent more workers, the biggest gain of any sector. Employment services, which provide work for 14,700 individuals, lost 10.4 percent workers, the biggest drop. Construction jobs totaled 94,600, down 8.9 percent from July last year.

    The hotel-casino and gaming sector, which counts 172,500 workers on its payrolls, registered a 2 percent decline from a year ago.

    Contact reporter John G. Edwards at jedwards@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0420.



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    mike d wrote on August 16, 2008 03:24 PM: Raise taxes! People need to grow up.

    Not every tax raise is bad!


    Bush II wrote on August 16, 2008 03:16 PM: Don't vote for McCain't! He will only bring more problem.

    Reagan, Bush I and II no growth, jobless, weak enviroment, war, recession, foreclosures, and unbalance budget.

    Only Clinton jobs, economic growth, world safety, budget surplus, and happy intern.

    Who would you pick?


    HousingDoom wrote on August 16, 2008 10:32 AM: Ok now kiddies, put down that crack pipe or that martini there bub, and yes, that's you there bucko, stop a moment being doped up by the 24 hr Olympic coverage and turn off that TV, ok? Got your attention? Good! Now boys and girls, take a look out side your little window, what do you see thru that clouded eyes of yours? Ah yes, a depression coming do you? yes my friends that bright light coming at you is the runnaway train of economic disaster brought about by decades of greed, stupidity and plain hubris by Govt, individuals and institutions! Get ready for payback time, its going to be a ballsbuster!


    HARRY REID wrote on August 16, 2008 10:10 AM: Barbara Barbara Barbara...

    I AM THE REASON FOR THE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT IN NEVADA AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
    I JUST LIKE TO KICK-BACK [HINT HINT] AND DO NOTHING EXCEPT TAKE CALLS FOR GREAT HIDDEN LAND DEALS IN AND AROUND LAS VEGAS!!!


    Barbara wrote on August 16, 2008 09:18 AM: The recession today is a mirror image of the recession of 1991-both caused by a president Bush! Both president Bushes had the Country living on a credit card wherin the repayments were the minimum required by the debt holders.

    The only piece of the puzzle that hasn't been put in place is the high interest rates; and they ARE coming.

    Read for yourself;
    1991recessionand6.8unemployment


    Helon Wheels wrote on August 16, 2008 09:14 AM: ELIMINATE all taxes and the economy will grow, its republiceconomics101!

    Come on Governor, ELIMINATE every single tax and watch Nevada take off financially! We'll be swimming in money; business will prosper and hire more people!

    Come on Gibbons, eliminate EVERY SINGLE TAX in Nevada!


    helenweils wrote on August 16, 2008 07:47 AM: Thank you Governor Gibbons, we appreciate your promise to keep us from the idiots who want to raise taxes. Keep up the great work!


    Jason Voorhees wrote on August 16, 2008 07:46 AM:


    Jim Gibbons is too busy trying to scam a few property tax dollars from the state coffers and finding a new bed buddy to worry about the little people.

    Be happy he even condescends to make a comment at all.


    jc wrote on August 16, 2008 06:50 AM: "Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons, however, issued a statement calling the state's economic condition 'difficult.'" So insightful. So concise. I feel good knowing that we have this genius at the helm - don't you?