Douglas unemployment hits 13.1 percent

About 700 fewer people were employed in Douglas County at the end of December than were at the beginning of 2009, according to state figures released today.

Douglas County's unemployment rate for December of 13.1 percent was the highest rate during the year, up from the 11.8 percent for November. But just as important there were 150 fewer people employed in December, according to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

The county's jobless numbers reflect those for the rest of the state, which jumped .7 percent to 13, approaching the record for the year.

"December marked the end of a historically bad year for Nevada's economy," said Bill Anderson, chief economist for the Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation. "A year marred by record setting unemployment and job loss. To cap an already dismal year, employers shed an additional 12,500 jobs in December, casting further doubt on the likelihood of a near-term economic recovery in Nevada."

Anderson doesn't hold out much hope for the first months of 2010.

"Despite the length and depth of the downturn, Nevada's job market will likely worsen in the months ahead," Anderson said.

Deconstructing the recession by industry reveals how and when different sectors began to succumb to the economic downturn. Construction employment peaked first in June 2006.

Negative economic contagion then spread to nearly all industries within two years. Total employment didn't peak until May 2007. Since then, all industries, except education and health services, have lost jobs. The education and health services industry has continued to grow given increased demand for services. Construction has, by far, lost the most jobs, 71,600, followed by leisure and hospitality with 44,100 jobs lost.