Click image for enlargement. Graphic by Mike Johnson.

CARSON CITY -- Nevada's jobless rate remained at 4 percent in June, a full percentage point lower than the national average, a state agency reported Friday.

The seasonally adjusted jobless rate compares to a 5.3 percent unemployment rate in neighboring California, according to the report from the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

The nonadjusted rate for the Las Vegas area was up four-tenths of a percentage point to 4.1 percent from May, but remained six-tenths of a percentage point lower than June 2004.

James Shabi, an economist with the agency, said Nevada continues to lead the nation in job growth.

"We were at 6.4 percent for the month of June," he said. "The bottom line is we're running about 2 percent to 2.5 percent above the next best state."

For the past 12 months, the state is growing jobs at a 6.4 percent rate, nonseasonally adjusted, Shabi said. Arizona is second at 3.8 percent, he said.

"There is nobody close, and that has been the case all year long," Shabi said.

In comments accompanying the report, Gov. Kenny Guinn said the state is seeing consistent job growth and low unemployment.

"At the risk of repeating myself, month after month, Nevada's economic outlook is enviable," he said.

Nevada employers created 9,400 new private sector jobs during June.

"Interestingly, more than 60 percent of new jobs in the state since January 2002 are in industrial sectors that pay higher-than-average wages," Guinn said.

Birgit Baker, director of the employment department said: "Four industries that pay good wages -- construction, education and health services, finance, and professional and business services -- have accounted for 112,000 new jobs during the current economic expansion."

Other high-paying industries, such as manufacturing and mining, have also contributed new jobs to Nevada's economy, she said.

The June report shows the nonseasonally adjusted jobless rate in Washoe County was 3.8 percent, up three-tenths of a percentage point from May but unchanged from a year ago.

In the Carson City area, unemployment was reported at 4.3 percent, up three-tenths of a percentage point from May and but eight-tenths of a percentage point lower than June 2004.

The Elko area reported unemployment at 3.9 percent, up six-tenths of a percentage point over the month and three-tenths of a percentage point higher than June a year ago.

Second-quarter rural county data revealed four counties with increases in unemployment from a year ago. Elko, Eureka, Mineral, and Storey counties all posted increased unemployment, while Douglas, Humboldt, and Pershing counties had no change.

Each of the major industry groups, with the exception of the information industry, has created new jobs in the past year. The information industry, which includes telecommunications, lost 200 jobs since June 2004.