Douglas jobless numbers jump

Douglas County unemployment jumped eight-tenths of a percent in September, increasing to 12.6 percent, its highest level so far this year.

According to the state, the county's total labor force for the county shrank 300 people to 24,210 from August. The number of unemployed increased by 170 workers.

Douglas trails the state average for the month of 13.3 percent, and Carson City's 12.8 percent. Lyon County continues to lead the state in unemployment with 16.3 percent.

State officials said all industries within the state have felt the effects of the economic downturn, but none more than construction.

"Construction benefited greatly from a booming economy, as building-related employment in Nevada increased by 48,000 between 1997 and 2007," according to William Anderson, chief economist for Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation.

However, since then, 50,000 jobs have been lost, Anderson said. Elsewhere, the leisure

and hospitality industry added 77,300 jobs during the ten-year period ending in 2007.

However, within the past two years 30,000 jobs have been eliminated.