Much like the rest of the country, Nevada has seen a rise in unemployment in recent months. While this is certainly a challenging time, Las Vegas’ undying spirit and entrepreneurial drive are paving the way for economic recovery and a stronger, more enduring local economy. This section will provide you with an overview of Las Vegas’ current employment picture, as well as offer details on the myriad ways Las Vegans are coming together to collectively improve the overall employment outlook for all residents.
Gaming, tourism and education remain the leading areas of employment for Southern Nevadans. The valley is also fast becoming home to a burgeoning base of entrepreneurs and startup companies; in fact, more than 10 percent of Las Vegas’ workforce is defined as being “entrepreneurial” in nature. That’s good news on many fronts: The Kauffman Foundation, a leading think tank of experts in the entrepreneurial research field, has conducted studies that indicate entrepreneurs will be instrumental in leading the way to the nation’s long-term economic stabilization.
While Las Vegas’ once unbeatable employment picture now mirrors many other major U.S. cities, Las Vegas is able to offer incentives most other large metro areas cannot: a vibrant environment that boasts no personal income tax and moderate property taxes. This translates to a favorable cost of living for valley residents. The valley is also home to forward-thinking business groups and government and nonprofit agencies, all working in concert to create new jobs, facilitate employment and small business training and educational programs, and attract new jobs to the area.
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According to the most recent figures from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (NVDETR), the Clark County School District clocks in as the valley’s largest overall employer, with more than 38,611 employees on the payroll as of the start of the 2009-2010 school year. Clark County is next with 14,859, followed by Nellis Air Force Base at 12,975, The Venetian hotel-casino at 9,747, and the Bellagio hotel-casino at 9,051.
While Nevada’s construction industry is currently experiencing a decline due to a slowdown in new housing starts (accounting for a significant percentage of lost jobs that contributes to the overall unemployment rate), there are several employment areas continuing to experience growth. According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation, trade, transportation and utility industries added more than 800 new jobs in the first half of 2009; manufacturing added more than 200 positions; and mining, an additional 100 jobs. Health care is another area that has seen sustained and ongoing job growth. Jobs in the professional scientific and technical service industries are continuing to expand as well.
In looking ahead, The Nevada Leading Employment Index, which provides a signal about the future of the state’s employment index, showed a small but hopeful upward tick in June 2009 of .03 percent.
The Employment Security Division (ESD) provides comprehensive employment and training services to Nevada businesses and workers. Employment Service programs offer job placement and training opportunities that assist businesses in meeting their employment needs and job seekers in returning to work through the state’s workforce investment system, Nevada JobConnect. Available services for businesses include labor market information, recruitment assistance, foreign labor certification, tax credit certification, training incentives and job fairs that help expand employer-recruiting efforts. Job seeker services include job referral, career guidance and skill enhancement training.
More than 86,000 Southern Nevadans are employed in construction trades. Top talent, including electricians, engineers, project managers and superintendents are required for the myriad construction projects under way valleywide. The emergence of LEED-certified buildings in the valley has created an additional need for skilled and knowledgeable construction personnel and design staff.
With an excellent transportation and com-munications network, Las Vegas has become a hub for the interaction of Western markets. Eighty percent of markets within 500 miles are served by overnight truck delivery at discounted rates, and the area serves as a business link between the Pacific Coast, the Sunbelt Southwest and international markets via McCarran International Airport (sixth busiest across the U.S.) Employment figures from NVDETR for the Las Vegas MSA (metropolitan statistical area) reported more than 163,000 workers in the transportation and trade industry in 2009.
Southern Nevada boasts an impressive array of community banks and financial institutions that combine an in-depth knowledge of the local market with a high degree of personalized service. Las Vegas Perspective reports that 46,000 people are employed in the finance and insurance sector of the economy.
Gaming, tourism and hospitality are expected to remain Southern Nevada’s top economic drivers for the foreseeable future. The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation indicates that Clark County has more than 263,000 people employed in all leisure and hospitality activities. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), some 18 million people visited Las Vegas as of July 1, 2009, each with an average gaming budget of $531.
The provision of service at the federal, state and local levels makes government the third-largest, service-based employer in Southern Nevada. Las Vegas is the seat for Clark County, which includes the incorporated cities of Boulder City, Henderson, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. In addition to traditional government offices, there are those unique to the state, such as the Gaming Control Board, the federal facilities of the Nevada Test Site and Nellis Air Force Base, which continue to have a major impact on the local economy.
The 2009 Las Vegas Perspective lists 1,180 manufacturing companies in Clark County with an annual payroll in excess of $257 million. Considering the region’s commitment to technological advancements and efficiency, as well as the diversity within the local manufacturing sector itself — from wood, plastic and rubber products to stone, glass
and metals materials to measuring, exacting and electronic instrument — the Las Vegas Valley stands prepared for future growth.
Southern Nevada’s continued growth has spurred the construction of several new hospitals in quick succession in recent years. The new construction has afforded health care centers the opportunity to incorporate the latest technology into their facilities. Employment opportunities in Southern Nevada’s health care industry continue to thrive. Las Vegas is now home to 29 specialty and full-service hospitals and major medical facilities,
many of which opened in recent years,
including some addressing key specialties with the latest in high-tech equipment. The number of teaching institutions also continues to grow, with medical and health care education
now being offered by, among others, the University of Nevada School of Medicine, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Nevada State College-Henderson; College of Southern
Nevada; Las Vegas College; The Academy of Healing Arts; Nevada Career Institute;
University of Phoenix-Las Vegas and TechSkills.
The Clark County School District (CCSD) is the largest employer in Southern Nevada, and qualified educators are in high demand. From high-tech public magnet schools to advanced medical skills training facilities, Southern Nevada is quickly gaining a reputation for its wide array of educational offerings and for employment opportunities in the educational field. More than 38,600 people are employed by the CCSD as of August 2009.
Employment experts advise to search for work with a positive attitude and determination. Job leads can come from many sources, including talking to people, checking out personnel services, answering newspaper ads, searching the Internet and inquiring about local professional networks and hotlines in specific industries.
Recruiting Nevada is a Las Vegas-based recruitment company that assists employers with their recruitment needs by attracting talented and educated professionals to the Silver State, both online and through other innovative media. For job seekers, Recruiting Nevada provides online job search engines that are both industry-broad and industry-specific. To search for jobs openings across various industries, job seekers can go to RecruitingNevada.com.
Another useful resource for job seekers is the Trailing Spouse Program. A joint venture between the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the Las Vegas business community, Clark County School District and the health care industry, this program gives special assistance to families of incoming teachers and health care professionals.
Nevada JobConnect is part of a local/state network dedicated to developing the workforce of Nevada. The network is comprised of the statewide efforts of the Workforce Investment Board coupled with planning and service provision on a regional level by two local workforce boards. Nevada JobConnect provides workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Nevada, providing career development information, job search resources, training programs and, as appropriate, unemployment benefits information. Services for employers include recruiting, retention, training and outplacement services as well as valuable information on labor laws and labor market statistics. To learn more about Nevada JobConnect, visit www.nevadajobconnect.com.
Other avenues for job hunting include searching the Web pages of large and midsize companies. Local librarians are good at helping job seekers find directories that list companies in specific fields. University alumni magazines and directories often list current companies and titles of graduates. In addition to the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District branches, job seekers can visit libraries at area colleges and universities.
The value of having a strong resumé cannot be overstated, as resumés are an important part of the interview process. For this reason, resumés and cover letters should be targeted to a specific industry or business.
Your resumé should be clean, concise and accurate, emphasizing your best qualities and your most recent experience. Resumés should be no longer than two pages, but a one-page resumé is recommended. Potential employers will take an average of 20 seconds to scan a resume to determine if they’ll read further. In large companies, human resource personnel who know little about a particular type of work often prescreen resumés.
Your resumé should encourage the reader to take a closer look at your qualifications and invite you in for a personal interview. Books on resumés are available at libraries and bookstores and can provide you with tips on how to make your resumé stand out from your competition. You could also use any one of Las Vegas’ many resumé services to help you prepare a professional-looking document. You may find local copy facilities also employ desktop publishing professionals who have experience in writing resumés.
Computer technology allows individuals to network with people around the country and the world, access information on job openings in other locations, broadcast resumés and research potential employers — all from a home or office. While electronic job search strategies are no substitute for direct, face-to-face contact and other more traditional strategies, they provide many opportunities to gain an advantage in a competitive job market.
For a listing of employment firms, go to the
Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce website, www.lvchamber.com, and click on the “Business Directory.” Type in “employment” and you will obtain a list of reputable firms in the area, including street addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Some of the agencies provide additional information.
The ability to network is considered as important in finding a job as combing through classified ads. To network, job seekers should contact everyone they know in the area. Professionals also can find contacts by attending seminars, conferences, community meetings, volunteer groups, hobby clubs and professional association activities.
If your spouse has been transferred or accepted a new position, find out if the employer offers spouse employment assistance programs to aid you in getting quickly adjusted in the new community, with minimal loss of income. Services could include, but are not be limited to:
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