Although Nevada’s economy is expected to slowly recover from the current economic slump through the next few years, many Las Vegas jobs are currently being lost.

The Las Vegas-Paradise area had a total non-farm employment of 917,400 in July 2008, a decrease of .3 percent from last year, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. July’s employment saw a decrease from June’s employment of 927,200. Las Vegas had an unemployment rate of 6.8 percent, an increase from June’s unemployment rate of 6.5 percent.

In February, the area saw an annual job increase of .2 percent, but since then has only seen annual job declines, by .3 percent in March, .3 percent in April, .6 percent in May and .6 percent in June.

The industries in Las Vegas that lost jobs during July include:

• construction by 8.9 percent
• manufacturing by 1.9 percent
• financial activities by 3 percent
• professional and business services by 1.9 percent
• leisure and hospitality by .3 percent

The area’s industries that increased include:

• trade, transportation and utilities by 1.8 percent
• education and health services by 4.6 percent
• other services by 1.9 percent
• government by 5.4 percent

The natural resources and mining industry and the information industry employed 500 and11,200 workers, respectively, the same as last year.

As of July 2008, Nevada saw a total non-farm employment of 1,281,800, a decrease of .6 percent from last year. The state as a whole had a 6.6 percent unemployment rate.

According to an article by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, the State of Nevada should see 44,000 new jobs through 2011, with the most growth occurring in 2010 and 2011. It is expected employment will decrease 1.1 percent in 2008, increase .3 percent in 2009, increase 1.8 percent in 2010 and increase 2.4 percent in 2011.