The state's unemployment rate rose slightly in April to 10.6 percent, its highest level in a quarter of a century, but an analyst remained hopeful because the number of jobless Nevadans dropped by about 100.
Monthly figures released Friday by the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation showed that the rate increased 0.2 percent from March, and put the state well above the national jobless rate of 8.9 percent in April.
The report said 146,300 Nevadans were out of work statewide in April, down about 100 from the March total. About 1.2 million people held jobs.
Carson City-area unemployment dropped from 11.3 percent to 10.8 percent between March and April. Employment in the area totaled about 26,400 and unemployment totaled about 3,200.
A month-to-month breakdown of hiring statewide by industry showed casino-related leisure and hospitality hiring was up 1,400; hiring in professional business services was up 600; construction was down 1,200; manufacturing was down 100 and mining held steady.
The Reno area's 11 percent non-seasonally adjusted rate, down from 11.2 percent a month earlier, was based on total employment of 202,200 and a jobless total of 25,000.
Unemployment in Elko and Eureka counties declined from 6.3 percent to 6 percent from month to month. There were 26,800 people working in the area during April and about 1,700 without jobs.
Government hiring was down 1,800; education-health services was up 100; hiring in the financial activities sector was down 300; and information services hiring was up 100.