While the economy has caused many industries to suffer, the State of Nevada has seen some benefit from the recession, as it seems to have stabilized Nevada government jobs.

As of the fiscal year that ended June 30, the percentage of employees within state agencies either leaving or changing their jobs came in at 17 percent, a decrease from 24 percent during 2006 and 22 percent during 2007.

“The security that government affords in a time like this is pretty clear,” Nevada Personnel Director Teresa Thienhaus, told San Jose Mercury News. “We probably have people making life choices to stay with a certain thing rather than to move and take something less certain.”

Of the employees who did leave their jobs at state agencies, only 11 percent said the departure was related to unsatisfactory work conditions, down from 27 percent during 2006. The number of employees who left to start their own business declined to almost half of the 50-per-year average.

An average of about 200 employees usually leave the state for other government agencies, but this year only 129 workers did so, meaning few workers are leaving their current positions for better paying jobs in local government. While all factors point to the state’s workforce seeing a new level of stabilization, that could be turned around once the economy begins to revive.

Another surprising figure, the number of people retiring has increased from 400 during each of the last four years to 572 this year. Officials say the increase is the result of changes to state benefits programs and is not related to the economy. In essence, the elimination of many benefits and limits on retiree participation in benefits programs forced many people to retire early.