Carson hit hard by unemployment

Greg Sierawski of Carson City lost his job in December after 10 years as a manufacturer at a foundry. He thinks he'll get another job before his savings runs out, but doesn't think the economy will get better before the summer.

"I just want somewhere to retire from," said Sierawski, 50.

Melissa Garcia of Carson City decided to study to be a nurse because she hasn't been able to find a new job that would support her

9-year-old son.

Garcia, 30, said the only businesses she saw hiring since losing her job in December were fast food restaurants.

"I can't do that," she said.

Carson City's unemployment rate for December reached 9.4 percent, the highest in more than 25 years. About 2,800 of the 29,675 workers in the city didn't have a job.

The reason for the high rate in Carson City and the state, which was 9.1 in December, is broad, said Bill Anderson, chief economist for Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation.

The problem started with a slowdown in homebuilding, he said, but spread to other industries and all of construction.

"You take it as a whole, this is a very worrisome report," Anderson said.

The economy will probably start to get better later this year and grow again in 2010 or 2011, he said.

The city ended 2008 hurt by the economy.

It had more than 150 home foreclosures, its highest number ever. A lack of needed sales taxes caused a $3 million shortfall in the city's budget. New home construction was less than a fifth of what it was two years before.

Jeff Fast, executive director of the Carson City community service organization Friends in Service Helping (FISH), said his dining room served more meals in December than he's seen in a long time.

Many people are laid off, he said, and less temporary work is available.

"It's difficult for guys to find work at all," he said.

More people are also looking for help from a program that gives meals to homeless elementary school students in Carson City.

Rebecca Rund, executive director of Food For Thought, said she expects to expand the program by 50 percent soon.

Volunteers, including one parent who is out of work, have been generous and kept the program running, she said.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.