Nevada unemployment sets new record, 14.3 percent

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada's historically high unemployment rate continued to rise in July, to 14.3 percent.

That set a new statewide record for the 16th straight month, and far outpaced the national rate of 9.5 percent.

The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported Friday that a one-tenth of one percentage-point jump, from 14.2 percent in June, was the smallest monthly increase this year.

But construction was essentially flat during the month, and Las Vegas led the rest of the state in joblessness, at 14.8 percent.

The unemployment rate in the Reno-Sparks area remained 13.6 percent, and the Carson City area improved from 13.3 percent in June to 13.2 percent in July.

The Elko area saw a half-percent improvement, from 8.5 percent in June to 8 percent in July.