Metro area unemployment rates down over the year in June

Unemployment rates in the state’s metros varied on a month-over-month basis, but decreased year-over-year. The rate in Las Vegas is up 0.3 percentage point from May, at 5.1 percent, and is down 1 percent from last year, said Bill Anderson, chief economist for Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. Reno’s rate is up 0.1 of a percentage point over-the-month, to 4 percent, and is down 1.2 percentage points over-the-year. Carson City’s rate reduced by 0.1 percentage point relative to last month and declined by 1.5 percentage points from June of last year, resulting in a 4.6 percent unemployment rate this month. “Metro area trends continue to mirror statewide improvement in the labor market,” Anderson said. “Unemployment rates remained at or below 6 percent and declined on an over-the-year basis in all 17 of the state’s counties. Over-the-year the number of jobs increased in the state as a whole and in all major population centers this month.”