(The Center Square) – A Nevada jobs report shows that the state continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the country.
Nevada’s unemployment rate for December 2024 stood at 5.7%. This remained unchanged from November 2024.
“This month’s report shows a slight rebound in employment growth, which rose to 0.7% over the year after adding 5,300 jobs from November to December. The unemployment rate again remained steady at 5.7%, while wage growth over the past year again accelerated to the fastest pace this year, rising by 6.2%,” said David Schmidt, chief economist at the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
Las Vegas added 4,200 of the 5,300 jobs that Nevada added from November to December.
Reno saw a decrease of 400 jobs during this same period.
The largest industry that saw an increase in employment in December was the “Professional and Business Services.” This industry gained 3,600 jobs.
Furthermore, Nevada’s construction industry added 1,100 jobs.
The industry that saw the biggest decrease in employment was the “Trade, Transportation, and Utilities” industry. It lost 1,500 jobs.
Nevada’s labor force participation rate was 62.4% last month, which is higher than America’s average by 0.2%.
In December, Nevada gained 977 more unemployment insurance initial claims, which was an increase of 8% from November.
Gov. Joe Lombardo discussed the “Economic Development Policy Reform Act” during his State of the State address earlier in January, The Center Square reported.
He said this bill would modernize incentives for businesses, address “needs like healthcare and childcare” and embrace “innovation and sustainability.”
Nevada’s legislature will consider this in its upcoming legislative session.
The other places that rounded out the top five highest unemployment rates were Washington, D.C. (5.6%), California (5.4%), Illinois (5.3%) and Kentucky (5.1%).
South Dakota and North Dakota had the lowest unemployment rates at 1.9% and 2.4%, respectively.
