Nevada adds 3,600 jobs in October

Nevada’s unemployment rate improved slightly in October to 12%, compared to the 12.5% mark it posted in September, according to new monthly statistics released Nov. 18 by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation (DETR).

The difference was an additional 3,600 jobs, led by 2,300 in construction, according to DETR, bringing Nevada’s total employment to 1,305,300 in October. “I’m encouraged to see that employment continues to grow,” DETR Director Elisa Cafferata said​ in a statement. “It is important that all Nevadans help reduce the spread of COVID so businesses can bring jobs back. DETR is committed to helping Nevadans get back to work.”

Despite the month-over-month increase, DETR notes in its October jobs report that unemployment is down by 117,200 jobs compared to October 2019. Management of companies and enterprises (-21.9%) and educational services (-20.6%) are down the most in Nevada since the same time last year.

Nationally, the unemployment rate was 6.9 percent in October. Nevada jobs are up 0.3%, while U.S. jobs are up 0.5% from September to October.

“Although the labor market continues to improve, Nevada remains one of the states most impacted by the COVID pandemic, with our economic outlook dependent on the response to COVID-19 including treatments, policy responses, and public compliance with measures to slow the spread of the disease,” David Schmidt, chief economist for DETR, said in a statement.