The number of Nevada jobs lost as of late is reaching a record high.

Although the state’s non-farm employment increased during February for the first time since September 2008, the unemployment rate increased to 10.1 percent, pushing the highest recorded rate at 10.7 percent during December 1982. Since the beginning of the recession in December 2007, the unemployment rate has increased every single month.

Since September 2008, 50,000 jobs have been lost and during February, the number of unemployed workers increased to 145,200. The return of higher education employees from winter break only offset job losses in other industries, according to an article by the Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation.

The unemployment rate increased in the state’s three major metropolitan areas during February, to 11.3 percent in Carson City, to 11.2 percent in Reno-Sparks and to 10.1 percent in Las Vegas-Paradise. In the Las Vegas area alone, 102,500 workers were without a job.

Statewide, the education, healthcare and social assistance sectors saw a combined job increase of 5,300 workers. At the same time, however, the retail sales industry lost 2,400 jobs; leisure and hospitality industry lost 1,000 jobs and the professional and business services industry lost 1,200 jobs.

“The healthcare and social assistance sector continues to defy recessionary pressures,” the article notes. “Employment has increased by 2,400 since February 2008, reaching an all time high of 89,100. Despite recent losses in wealth and income, Nevadans continue to demand increased services, likely due to a historical gap in service availability caused by rapid population growth.

“In the year 2000, there were 34 Nevadans for every healthcare and social assistance worker,” the article continues. “By 2008, that ratio had declined 30 Nevadans for every healthcare and social assistance worker. Even with the improvement, Nevada compares poorly to the nation as a whole, where there are 19 Americans for every healthcare and social assistance worker. To offer comparable service, the sector would need to increase employment by roughly 47,000 or 53 percent in Nevada.”

Also during February, employment in the leisure and hospitality industry decreased by 5.9 percent compared to last year; gaming wins were down by 14.6 percent; statewide taxable sales were down by 16.2 percent and Las Vegas visitor volume decreased by 11.9 percent.