Nevada's unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent in December, its highest level since September 1983, as nearly one out of every 10 Nevadans were out of work, according to a state report released Monday.
The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation report shows the seasonally adjusted rate was up from 8.1 percent in November " and also shows the state well above the national jobless rate of 7.2 percent in December. About 128,100 Nevadans were out of work while 1.3 million others held jobs .
"Nevada's economic conditions took a turn for the worse in the final months of 2008, and the deterioration was particularly evident in December," said Bill Anderson, chief economist for the agency.
Anderson said employment has been declining for 10 straight months in Nevada, and an economic rebound is likely to lag behind a national recovery because of the tourism-dependent state's reliance on "the willingness of consumers to spend disposable income."
"New development will likely remain stalled until credit markets loosen," Anderson said, adding that a return to year-over-year employment growth may not be seen in Nevada until 2011.
Anderson also noted that initial claims for jobless insurance benefits topped 36,000 in December, a record total. For the week ending Jan. 17, DETR made 78,391 unemployment benefit payments to first-time recipients and others already getting the payments.
A breakdown of the December rate shows increases also occurred in the state's population centers, including the Las Vegas area at 9.1 percent, up from 7.9 percent. In the Reno area, the rate hit 9 percent in December, up from 7.8 percent in November.
For the Las Vegas area, the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 9.1 percent was based on total employment in all industries of 926,800 people and a jobless total of 92,400.
The Reno area's 9 percent non-seasonally adjusted rate was based on total employment of 214,700 and a jobless total of 21,200.
Carson City-area unemployment increased from 8.2 percent to 9.4 percent between November and December. Employment in the area totaled about 26,900 and unemployment totaled about 2,800.
Unemployment in Elko and Eureka counties increased from 4.4 percent to 4.9 percent. There were 27,800 people working in the area during December and about 1,400 without jobs.
A month-to-month breakdown of hiring statewide by specific industries showed there were 4,300 fewer jobs in professional business services; and 3,600 fewer construction jobs.
There were 800 fewer employees in casino-related leisure and hospitality hiring; 300 fewer workers in government; 200 more workers in education-health services; 600 fewer manufacturing jobs, and 100 fewer mining jobs.
Hiring was down 100 in information services; and down 300 in the financial activities sector.
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On the Net:
Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation:
www.detr.state.nv.us