Carson City’s unemployment increased to 7.7 percent in January, up one percent from December, according to figures released Tuesday by the state’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
The large over the month increase in the Carson City unemployment rate can be explained by a jump in unemployment claims between December and January. In December there were 440 continued claims; preliminary numbers for January came in at 540 claims, state figures show. The over-the-year unemployment rate in the capital city has decreased overall by 0.8 of a percent.
In January, the unemployment rates in Nevada’s metropolitan statistical areas saw a slight increase, but decreased on a year-over-year basis. In the Reno/Sparks area, the rate rose to 6.2 percent, but decreased 1.2 percentage points year over year. The rate in Las Vegas rose to 6.5 percent, and is down one percentage point from last year.
“Although most county unemployment rates realized a slight increase this month, rates continue to be below 10 percent in all of the Silver State’s counties,” said Bill Anderson, chief economist for Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. “Month-over-month increases are not cause for concern as such volatility is not unusual. The annual average rates are better indicators of the health of the labor market.”
Statewide, employment increased by a seasonally adjusted 7,800 in January, relative to December. The Las Vegas MSA had a seasonally adjusted increase of 8,100 jobs, while Reno/Sparks’ jobs increased by 1,300, seasonally adjusted. Carson City’s employment decreased by 300 jobs.
