State jobless rate at 5.7 percent

About 78,400 Nevadans were out of work in April as the state's unemployment rate dipped slightly to 5.7 percent but remained above the national average, a report released on Friday stated.

The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation report shows the seasonally adjusted rate was down from 5.8 percent in March. The latest rate in Nevada compares with a national rate of 5 percent. Total employment statewide during the month was about 1.3 million.

Bill Anderson, the agency's chief economist, said Nevada's flagging housing market "continued to be a drag on the economy" during April. His report notes that construction jobs, while up about 800 from March, are down about 11,100 from April 2007.

Carson City-area unemployment dropped from 6.9 to 6.5 percent between March and April. Employment in the area totaled about 27,700 and unemployment totaled about 1,900.

For the Las Vegas area, non-seasonally adjusted unemployment declined from 5.6 percent to 5.5 percent between March and April. There were about 935,500 people working in the area and the jobless total was 54,400.

The Reno area saw non-seasonally adjusted unemployment drop from 6.2 percent to 6 percent in the same period. Employment totaled 219,200, and about 14,000 people were out of work.

Unemployment in Elko and Eureka counties decreased from 4.2 percent to 3.8 percent from month to month. There were 27,100 people working in the area during April and about 1,100 without jobs.

A month-to-month breakdown of hiring statewide by specific industries showed an increase of 1,600 workers in government; 100 more workers in education-health services; 100 more workers in mining; and 200 more employees in manufacturing.

There were 700 fewer workers in professional business services; and 900 fewer employees in casino-related leisure and hospitality hiring. Hiring is down 100 in transportation-warehousing-utilities; up 100 in information services; and down 100 in the financial activities sector.

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On the Net:

Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation: www.detr.state.nv.us