Las Vegas’ July unemployment rate falls; job growth remains slow

Las Vegas’ unemployment rate continues to drop, though job growth remains slow.

An estimated 16.4 percent of Las Vegas area’s workforce was unemployed in July, according to new figures released Wednesday by the state Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation.

The valley added 12,000 new jobs since June with many of the gains coming from trade, transportation and utilities sectors, according to DETR.

“Nevada has added jobs for the third straight month in July, though at a slower pace than in previous months,” David Schmidt, DETR’s chief economist, said in a statement Wednesday.

Schmidt said July’s data reflects “a period of slower growth” following Nevada’s reopening in May and June and that the coronavirus pandemic’s economic effects “continue to weigh on the labor market.”

Compared with July 2019, total unemployment in Las Vegas saw a loss of 132,100 jobs, or a 12.8 percent decrease — the majority of which, 74,100 jobs, were in the hospitality and leisure sectors.

Contact Jonathan Ng at jng@reviewjournal.com. Follow @ByJonathanNg on Twitter.