Carson City unemployment rate down 2.2 percent for 2014

Unemployment in Nevada's capital city fell 2.2 percentage points over the year, ending December with a rate of 7 percent, said Bill Anderson, chief economist for Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

Carson City follows the rest of the state in terms of improvements, with Nevada's rate ending in 2014 at 6.8 percent, down from 6.9 percent in November and 9 percent in December 2013. This is the lowest the rate has been since June 2008 when it was also at 6.8 percent.

“The Silver State continues to experience positive gains in our job market, pointing to overall improvements in our economy,” said Gov. Brian Sandoval. “I am pleased to see Nevadans are going back to work and employers are adding jobs, helping to strengthen our communities. There is still work to do and I remain committed to continuing our efforts to build a strong and sustainable economy for future generations.”

The unadjusted unemployment rate for each of the state’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) is down this month on a year-over-year basis. The Las Vegas-Paradise and Reno-Sparks MSAs are both down two percentage points from December 2013, to 6.9 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively.

“All 17 of the state’s counties now have unemployment rates below 10 percent,” Anderson said. “We have positive indications that Nevada’s labor market will continue to improve, as employers steadily add jobs to the economy.

For the entire year, private sector job growth came to 38,200 relative to all of 2013. This is on top of gains recorded in previous years. After bottoming out in 2010, private sector job growth totaled 11,500 in 2011. This was followed by gains of 20,000 in 2012 and 29,200 in 2013. Added up, this comes to 99,000 new jobs since 2010. When we consider the latest available data, through the second quarter of 2014, Nevada’s private sector is growing at 3.7 percent relative to the same period in 2013, making us the state with the third-fastest growing private sector in the nation.”

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid released the following statement Tuesday on Nevada’s December employment report.

“Today’s report is further proof that Nevada’s economy continues to improve. The progress we have made since the recession is encouraging. Our state wide unemployment rate is at its lowest since June 2008 and now all of Nevada’s counties have unemployment rates below 10 percent. Still, there is more work to be done. We must continue to bring jobs to Nevada and pass sound economic policies so that all Nevadans feel these positive economic gains.

“As we begin the 114th Congress, I remain committed to working with my fellow Senators to pass commonsense legislation that will benefit hardworking Nevadans. We finished last congress by passing important bipartisan bills that benefit Nevada like the Travel Promotion Act, the Tax Extenders Law and the Omnibus Appropriations Bill. I am hopeful my Republican colleagues will continue that trend so we can work together to ensure people across Nevada and America achieve the economic stability they deserve. We are at a crossroads in our economic recovery. It is up to Republicans to choose whether they are willing to work with us and fight for the working and middle class or fight to protect wealthy special interests.”