Douglas jobless number softens

The percentage of Douglas County's jobless dropped to 14.3 percent, its lowest level of 2010, according to figures released this morning by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

The total labor force in the county was 23,040 workers, for the month of August, 10 fewer than in July.

According to state figures, 60 jobs were added to Douglas Count's workforce.

The county's total labor force is up 250 workers from the beginning of the year and there are 60 fewer people on the unemployment rolls.

Douglas County's unemployment level is the fifth highest in the state. Lyon County continues to lead the state's unemployment numbers with 18 percent unemployment, followed by Nye County with 17.2 percent, Mineral County with 14.63 percent and Clark County with 14.74 percent.

Statewide, Nevada posted 14.4 percent unemployment for August, breaking previous records. The statewide jobless percentage is the highest in the nation.

The 14.4 percent rate represents 192,000 people out of work in the state with 142,000 of them in the Las Vegas area. More than 10,000 workers left the labor force to either seek employment out of state or became too discouraged to look for work, said Bill Anderson, chief economist for the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

"The hot summer days of August did little to stimulate Nevada's economic fortunes," Anderson said. "Readings of key labor market indicators continue to show moderating losses. Private employers added 2,300 jobs, which offset a reduction of 3,000 jobs in the public sector," Anderson said. "The 2010 Census began to wind down, bringing an end to employment for about 1,900 workers, while local government shed about 1,000 jobs, brought on by continued budget cuts."