The bigger picture of Nevada unemployment

Page Last Updated: Friday December 18, 2009 8:04am PST

Karen Todd-News 4

It is estimated more than 161,000 Nevadans were actively seeking work during the month of November.

Without steady work, it is likely they are not spending as much this holiday season and that, in turn, is affecting Nevada's economy.

From coffee shops to small businesses and restaurants, the number of customers that used to frequent many Nevada companies has dwindled. Economists say, fewer customers hurts our state economy even more, as companies cut back to deal with the slow down.

"As one business isn't receiving customers, they don't hire people, and then those people aren't spending either," said University of Nevada Economics Professor Mark Pingle. "A second factor is that when people who are employed see others who aren't, they're not spending as much this Christmas, because they don't know how secure they're job is."

Pingle says Nevada will likely have a better picture of it's true unemployment rate when the January and February numbers are released. He says even in good times, there is an increase in unemployment during those months as seasonal holiday workers are let go.

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