Nevada’s unemployment drops again in May as employers added more jobs

Nevada’s unemployment rate dropped again in May as businesses in every sector except mining added to their workforce.

The seasonally adjusted rate finished the month at 7 percent but the raw rate went even lower at 6.6 percent as 12,100 more people were hired statewide.

Bill Anderson, economist for the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, said the May numbers followed a strong April showing when 10,200 jobs were added in the state.

Gov. Brian Sandoval pointed out the number of people looking for work is now at 99,200 — just more than half what it was at the peak of the recession.

The state‘s huge leisure and hospitality industry posted the largest gains, adding a total of 15,600 jobs during the first five months of this year.

Construction too is returning, adding more than 4,600 jobs so far this year.

Overall, Anderson said initial claims for unemployment are at 11,000 for May, a 12.5 percent decline compared to a year ago. Average monthly claims over the past year were half what they were at the peak of the recession.

Altogether, there are 1.25 million jobs in Nevada, the highest number since September 2008.

May figures for the regional markets in Nevada weren’t yet available.