Nevada unemployment holds steady at 5.1%

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Nevada was unchanged in May at 5.1%, while Churchill County’s rate is slightly lower.

The state’s unadjusted rate went up by 0.4 percentage points from 5% to 5.4% with the number of employed individuals in the state went up by 148.

Churchill County has a labor force of 10,949 with 10,438 employed and 511 unemployed in May for a 4.7% unemployment rate. The Fallon micropolitan area uses the same figures.

Meanwhile in neighboring Lyon County, 22,014 residents are employed with 1,096 out of work for a 6.3% unemployment rate.

At the Metropolitan Statistical Area level, the state saw an increase in unemployment rate in all three of its MSAs of Las Vegas-Paradise, Reno-Sparks MSA and Carson City MSA, where there was an increase 0.2 percentage points from 4.6% to 4.8%.

The state saw increases in unemployment rate in all of its counties besides Esmeralda County, which saw a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from 5.7% to 5.4%. The largest increases were seen in Churchill, Storey and Lincoln counties.

Figures for state unemployment estimates come from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program, a state/federal partnership sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS-LAUS). This program produces monthly and annual employment, unemployment, and labor force data for census regions, states, counties, metropolitan areas and many large cities based on place of residence.

Seasonally adjusted estimates account for regularly seen seasonal employment patterns such as jobs associated with holiday hiring, holiday and weather seasons, or other jobs with seasonal components.

Nevada’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1% in May, which was unchanged from 5.1% in April, and increased by 0.1 % from 5% in 2023.

The Reno MSA’s unemployment rate was 4.5% in May, increasing from 4.2% in April 2024, and up from 4% in May 2023, non-seasonally adjusted. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 872 since April 2024 to a current level of 11,994 people, which is 1,417 more unemployed people than May 2023. The labor force in Reno is currently 266,281 people, which is 85 fewer people than April 2024 and is up 199 people since May 2023.

The Carson City MSA’s unemployment rate was 4.8% in May 2024, increasing from 4.6% in April 2024, and up from 4.3% in May 2023, non-seasonally adjusted. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 63 since April 2024 to a current level of 1,261 people, which is 142 more unemployed people than May 2023.

The cities of Boulder City, Elko, Fernley and Mesquite are state specific areas. These estimates are not endorsed or published by the BLS.