Las Vegas

Las Vegas Unemployment Falls, Yet Remains Higher Than U.S. Average

Posted on: September 3, 2026, 01:46h.

Last updated on: September 7, 2026, 08:36h.

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Devin O'Connor Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news. Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014...
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Key Points

Las Vegas unemployment dropped to 5.4% in July, a half-point improvement from a year ago
Nevada ranked 46th among states, as local unemployment continued to top the 4% national average
Hospitality hit: Las Vegas shed 1,800 leisure and gaming jobs during the month

Fewer people in Las Vegas were unemployed in July compared to a year ago, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics placing the local jobless rate at 5.4%.

Las Vegas unemployment rate Nevada — A cook arrives at work along Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas in a file photograph taken on Oct. 31, 2021. The unemployment rate in Las Vegas remained above the national average in July 2026. (Image: Shutterstock)

The unemployment rate for the Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas area declined from 5.9% in July 2025, but rose from 5.2% in June 2026. The federal agency said there were more than 72,000 unemployed people in the metro area in July.

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) said Las Vegas added about 2,300 jobs in July, representing a marginal 0.2% increase from June. About 9,900 jobs were added over the past 12 months, a 0.8% gain.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5%, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from June. However, DETR said the labor force decreased by 5,077 individuals, bringing the current labor market to 1,681,603 people.

July’s report highlights a steady labor market in Nevada as we enter the second half of the year. Year-over-year job growth remains solid at just over 1%, with professional services and health care leading the way at more than 4% growth,” said David Schmidt, DETR’s chief economist.

“Compared to June, Nevada added 4,000 jobs, in contrast to the national decline of 23,000 jobs. The unemployment rate and labor force participation rate both fell compared to June, mirroring national trends,” Schmidt added.

Nevada, Las Vegas Unemployment Remain High

Las Vegas’ unemployment rate, despite the year-over-year improvement, remained above the national average. The federal government reported a national unemployment rate of 4%, down 0.3% from a year ago.

Nevada tied for 46th among the 50 states, with only California, Connecticut, and Oregon having higher unemployment rates in July.

As for the 387 metropolitan areas monitored by the Labor Statistics Bureau, the average unemployment rate was 4.4% in July, not seasonally adjusted, with the agency reporting that the rate was “little changed from a year earlier.”

Bismarck, ND, Rapid City, SD, and Sioux Falls, SD/Minn. reported the lowest unemployment rates at 1.9% each.

Las Vegas’ 5.4% unemployment was 1.2 percentage points above the average of the other metropolitan areas, all of which have a population of 25,000 or more people.

Casino Jobs Weigh Heavily

Employment in Nevada and Las Vegas’ casino industry didn’t do any favors for the July jobs report.

DETR said leisure and hospitality jobs, which include gaming, saw a reduction of 2,900 positions during the month. The Las Vegas area was blamed for 1,800 of the cuts.

August might not be any better, as Cirque du Soleil announced last month the elimination of 98 positions related to the closing of the Mad Apple production at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino.

Wynn Las Vegas announced the closing of Awakening that will put 178 people out of work, and the shuttering of Lotus of Siam restaurant at Red Rock Resort in Summerlin affects 81 positions.