CARSON CITY, NV – Nevada's unemployment rate is matching much of the country, with figures not seen in the past two decades.
According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s December 2019 economic report, employment in Nevada is down 3,500 jobs over the month but up 27,400 over the year.
The state’s unemployment rate is 3.8 percent this month, down 0.2 percentage point from November and down 0.6 percentage point when compared to last December.
“I am excited to see that Nevada’s unemployment rate has matched its all-time low this month, lower than it has been in the last twenty years and to see this month’s numbers reinforce Nevada’s 9 full years of unbroken year-over-year job growth. As Nevada continues to grow, we must look to the future and continue working to provide every Nevadan with access to highquality jobs and help all families capitalize on the benefits of this economy,” Governor Steve Sisolak said.
DETR’s report also notes that Nevada’s Unemployment Insurance claims are up 1,529 over the month and 58 claims over the year.
Despite the increase, UI claim levels remain low, historically speaking. The 12-month average level of initial claims continues to trend below 10,000, only the second time since March 1999.
“Despite a slower job growth, a weaker holiday season in the wholesale trade and transportation and warehousing industries and a seasonal slowdown in construction, we continue to see employment growth above the national average. As we close out the decade, it is impressive to see that our unemployment rate has come down nearly ten full percentage points and the state has added almost 328,000 jobs in that time. Although, our state sustained a massive economic blow at the start of the decade, Nevada enters the next with solid job growth and low unemployment, which should continue to provide opportunities for job seekers across the state.” said David Schmidt, Chief Economist for DETR