Reno metro shows strongest Nevada employment growth, Carson City up 1,200 jobs over year
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 07/23/2019 - 10:44am
CARSON CITY — Statewide, jobs increased by 3.3 percent, a gain of 45,500 new jobs added since June of last year and the fastest growth in the nation for the 9th consecutive month, according to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s June 2019 local area economic report released Tuesday.
The Reno metropolitan statistical area added jobs at a rate of 6.0 percent during the same period, while Las Vegas and Carson City grew by 1.8 and 4.0 percent respectively.
All three MSAs had faster employment growth rates than the national rate of 1.5 percent. Over the month, employment statewide fell by 4,000 jobs, with this decline concentrated in Las Vegas, the report states.
The Las Vegas metro had a decrease of 3,200 jobs, while the Reno area had an increase of 300 jobs, and Carson City showing no change all seasonally adjusted to show underlying trends and compared with May.
June’s report also indicated that unemployment rates were increasing compared to May of this year in all the state’s MSAs, counties, and cities. When compared to June last year unemployment rates decreased by 0.2 percent in all three of the metro areas.
On a county level, decreases were seen in nine counties, Douglas county remained constant, and seven had increases all when compared to June.
Cities in Nevada showed similar trends over the year with decreases in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Sparks, and Reno also compared over the year.
In June, the three metro areas experienced job growth which exceeded the national average of 1.5 percent when compared to June last year. While employment in Las Vegas mirrors the statewide numbers in showing a decline from May to June, we tend to focus on the annual change which provides a more reliable indicator of overall economic trends in the state’s local areas, said David Schmidt, Chief Economist, for Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation.
By this measure, all of Nevada’s metropolitan areas continue to show growth exceeding the national average. Furthermore, unemployment rates continue to fall in our metropolitan areas as well as the state’s largest cities, though several counties in rural Nevada saw unemployment rate increases over the year, he said.
"The picture around the state continues to be one of significant job growth and very low unemployment, creating a favorable situation for unemployed or underemployed workers in the state,” said Schmidt.
Additional June 2019 Economic Report Highlights:
Job Growth in June (Seasonally-Adjusted):
— Carson City remained constant over the month, and is up 1,200 jobs over the year (4.0 percent).
— Reno added 300 jobs over the month and 14,600 over the year (6.0 percent).
— Las Vegas is down 3,200 jobs over the month and is up 18,800 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: 4.3 percent, up 0.5 percentage point from May, and down 0.2 percentage from a year ago.
— Reno: 3.4 percent; up 0.4 percentage point from May, down 0.2 percentage from this time last year.
— Las Vegas: 4.8 percent; up 0.8 percentage point from May, and down 0.2 percentage from a year ago.
Since June 2018, 9 of 17 counties showed decreases in unemployment with Lyon, Nye, and Humboldt counties decreasing 0.1 percent; Carson, Clark, and White Pine decreasing by 0.2 percent; Lincoln decreased by 0.4 percent; Mineral decreased by 1.3 percent; and Esmeralda decreasing the most by 2.0 percent.
— Douglas County remained constant when compared to June last year.
— Seven counties had increases in unemployment compared to June last year. Lander and Churchill increased by 0.1 percent; Storey, Elko, and Washoe increased by 0.2 percent, Eureka increased by 0.3 percent; and Pershing had the largest increase at 1.8 percent.
— When compared to May all counties had increases in unemployment ranging from 0.2 percent in Douglas to 1.8 percent in Pershing.
— Eureka at 2.8 percent has the State’s lowest unemployment rate, and Nye had the highest at 5.6 percent.
— On a city level Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Sparks, Reno, and Boulder City had decreases in unemployment on an annual basis. Over the year increases were seen in Elko City, Fernley, and Mesquite.
— Indexed housing prices in Reno and Carson City have returned to previous highs, and Las Vegas is following a similar trend.
— Clark County job ads increased by 10,873 over June 2018, totaling 23,459 ads for the month.
— Washoe County had an increase of 1,649 job ads from this time 2018 for a total of 5,025.
