A new report found that even though fewer businesses have relocated to or expanded in western Nevada during the last year, more Reno jobs were created.

The report, from the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, stated that only 17 companies moved to or expanded in the Reno area during the last year, which is a decrease from the 28 companies that did so the previous year. However, 743 new jobs were created, an increase from the 658 jobs created the year before.

The increase in jobs is mostly due to two employers - AT&T Nevada and the Hartford Financial Services Group - which together created 450 new positions. AT&T added 300 workers at its Reno customer call center. Although HFSG closed its office in Reno in 2007, the company has returned to the area and plans to employ about 150 workers.

Of the 17 companies that did expand or relocate to the Reno area, 11 were new enterprises and six were expansions. On top of that, inquiries from companies looking for information about business opportunities in the area have increased by 15 percent. The biggest interest is coming from companies in California, and local organizations are currently planning a marketing campaign to help bring them to the region.

Although the Reno area has lost a considerable amount of jobs when compared to last year, the month-to-month damage has not been nearly as bad. Reno’s June unemployment rate has not yet been released, but during May, the area saw its unemployment rate increase from 11 percent to 11.2 percent.

The Reno-Sparks area had a total non-farm employment of 199,500 workers during June, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 199,600 workers during May and an 8.1 percent decrease from last year.