County jobless rate increased slightly in January

The unemployment rate in the county rose during the first month of 2016, but the jump was similar to ones seen in the past during the same time.

January saw an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent, jumping from 7.8 percent in December, with the increase likely attributed to seasonal jobs that are offered during the holidays, according to the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

The number is down from January 2015’s unemployment rate of 9.4 percent, which increased from December 2014’s 8.7 percent rate. Both 2014 into 2015 and 2015 into 2016 saw a .7 percent increase.

Although employment rose during the first month of the year, January 2016 represents the fifth year in a row that the unemployment rate was lower than the previous year’s number during the same month.

The unemployment rate in January 2011 was 17.7 percent, which dropped to 16.1 percent in 2012, 13.7 percent in 2013, 10.5 percent in 2014 and 9.9 percent in 2015.

Between January 2011 and January of this year, the unemployment rate in Nye County has decreased by 52 percent.

Statewide, there was a similar trend seen, as in January 2011, the unemployment rate sat at 14 percent, dropping to 6.2 percent this January, representing a 56 percent decrease over that span.

Clark County’s unemployment rate also moved up in January to 6.5 percent, compared with 6.2 percent in December. There was also a similar drop in the rate compared to Nye County as Clark County’s unemployment rate was down a full percent from 7.5 percent in January 2015.

The statewide jobless rate is still well above the federal unemployment rate, which was 4.9 percent in January.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that Nevada ranked No. 5 in the nation for unemployment in January, tied with Alabama and behind Mississippi (6.7 percent), Alaska (6.6 percent), New Mexico (6.5 percent) and West Virginia and Illinois (tied at 6.3 percent).

Nye County has seen steady improvement in its unemployment, but despite the gains, the county still has the third highest rate of unemployment in the state. Lyon County has the highest unemployment rate in the state at 9.5 percent, with Mineral County coming in after them at 9.4 percent.

Despite the heightened unemployment number, the area showed that there were 96 percent more jobs posted online this January compared to January 2015, as there were 193 jobs posted online this year in the county, compared to 98 jobs available online last year during the same time.

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.