Nevada job growth continues: Reno and Vegas see gains, Carson City down slightly in July

While Carson City employment figures show a decrease of roughly 100 jobs in July, the capital city is up more than 1,000 jobs over the year, according to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s monthly economic report released Tuesday.

Statewide, jobs increased by 3.1 percent, a gain of 43,400 new jobs added since July last year, giving the Silver State honors of having the fastest growth rate in the nation for the 10th straight month.

The Reno metropolitan statistical area added jobs at the rate of 6.0 percent during the same period, while Las Vegas and Carson City grew by 1.8 and 3.7 percent respectively.

All three MSAs had faster employment growth rates than the national rate of 1.5 percent. Both the Las Vegas and Reno MSAs had seasonally adjusted (data adjusted to show underlying trends in employment) increases of 4,100 jobs and 1,400 jobs respectively when compared to June.

Carson City, meanwhile, experienced a decrease of 100 seasonally adjusted jobs, the report states.

According to the report, Carson City's unemployment rate for the month is 4.1 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from June, and down 0.4 percentage point from a year ago.

Unemployment in the metro areas continued to fall when compared to July 2018, and fell or remained constant when compared to June. On a county level, decreases in unemployment were seen in 10 counties with increases in five counties, and the remaining two staying constant all compared to July.

Since June, six counties saw decreases in unemployment, three remained constant, and eight counties had increases in unemployment. Unemployment in some cities showed increases compared to last year of 0.1 percent. Changes since June were more mixed with Boulder and Elko increasing, Mesquite remaining constant, and Fernley decreasing.

“On a whole, the Silver State economy continues to grow with the number of jobs increasing in the metro areas, and unemployment continuing to decline in these areas as well," said David Schmidt, Chief Economist for DETR. "Unemployment in our counties was more mixed, but overall the rates remain low. These indicators all point to the Nevada economy continuing to grow with new opportunities for employment."

July 2019 Economic Report Highlights:
Job Growth in July (Seasonally-Adjusted):
— Carson City decreased by 100 over the month, and is up 1,100 jobs over the year (3.7 percent).

— Reno added 1,400 jobs over the month and 14,700 over the year (6.0 percent)

— Las Vegas is up 4,100 jobs over the month and is up 18,200 over the year (1.8 percent).

All three of the metro areas have employment growth rates higher than the national growth rate of 1.5 percent.

Unemployment:
— Carson City: 4.1 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from June, and down 0.4 percentage point from a year ago.

— Reno: 3.4 percent; unchanged from June, down 0.2 percentage from this time last year.

— Las Vegas: 4.7 percent; down 0.1 percentage point from June, and down 0.2 percentage point from a year ago.

Since July 2018, Esmeralda, Mineral, White Pine, Carson City, Storey, Nye, Douglas, Clark, Washoe, and Lyon counties showed decreases in unemployment.

In Lander and Churchill counties unemployment rates remained constant compared to July 2018. Increases in unemployment were seen in Elko, Humboldt, Lincoln, Eureka, and Pershing counties over the year.

Over the month decreases in unemployment were seen in Douglas, Mineral, Carson City, White Pine, Pershing, and Clark counties.

Eight counties had increases in unemployment when compared to June: Lyon, Churchill, Nye, Elko, Eureka, Lincoln, Humboldt, and Esmeralda counties. The unemployment rate remained constant in Storey, Washoe, and Lander counties also compared to June.

Eureka has the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.1 percent, and Nye had the highest rate at 5.8 percent.
On a city level, Boulder, Elko, Fernley, and Mesquite all increased by 0.1 percent when compared to July last year.

In an analysis of Nevada’s long-term industry growth, we see that job growth outside of the metro areas will be expected in occupations and industries in Nevada’s existing sectors, many of which are in occupations and industries with lower wages and educational requirements.

Clark County job ads increased by 9,288 over July 2018, totaling 23,062 ads for the month. Washoe County had an increase of 1,174 job ads from this month in 2018 for a total of 4,839.