Continuing unemployment claims decrease for 11th straight week in Nevada

The number of people on unemployment benefits fell last week for the 11^th straight week.

As of Oct. 24, there were 127,673 people on the unemployment roll, a decline of 12,459.

That decreased Nevada’s “insured unemployment” rate to 9.1 percent.

But that is still much lower than the state’s total unemployment rate because of the number of workers not covered by the insurance system.

Among those workers not covered are those receiving benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program that provides benefits to the self-employed and gig workers. PUA continued claims totaled 89,253 during last week, a decline of 867 claims form the week before.

Nevada’s Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program that provides benefits to those who have exhausted regular benefits reported 83,467 claims filed, an increase of 8,425 from the previous week. But officials say that increase is expected as people exhaust their regular benefits.

Finally, those who have exhausted regular and PEUC benefits go to the State Extended Benefit program that provides another 20 weeks of support. That program saw an increase of 1,086 new claims in the week ending Oct. 24.

Locally, Carson City reported 99 new claims for regular benefits in the week. In Churchill it was just 25 claims with 78 in Douglas and 80 in Lyon counties. Carson finished the week with 1,311 continued claims, Churchill with 287, Douglas 930 and Lyon 1.074.