Las Vegas jobless rate steady at 6.3 percent

The Las Vegas Valley's unemployment rate stalled in November.

The market's jobless rate was 6.3 percent in the month, unchanged from October, the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported Tuesday. The rate was down from 7 percent a year earlier.

Employers citywide added 23,000 jobs year over year in November, for a growth rate of 2.6 percent.

Service providers created 15,500 of the new positions. Employment in leisure and hospitality grew by 2 percent, or 5,700 jobs, to 287,400 positions. Employment in education and health services soared by 6.5 percent, or 5,400 positions, to 88,500 jobs. Professional and business services, including law firms, accounting firms and employment agencies, added 2.1 percent, or 2,500 positions, to their jobs base, for a total of 124,000.

Construction continued to lead the way in growth rate, surging by 15.9 percent, or 7,500 jobs, to 54,600 postions. That's still well below a 2006 peak of 148,000.

The employment department reported Wednesday that Nevada's jobless rate was 6.5 percent in November. The state rate is seasonally adjusted and can deviate noticeably from unadjusted local rates.

The national rate averaged 5 percent in November.

Nevada tied with West Virginia for the second-highest jobless rate in the country, after New Mexico at 6.8 percent, according to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Contact Jennifer Robison at jrobison@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @_JRobison