By KTVN Channel 2 News / 2news.com
Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation announced that from January 2025 to January 2026, the state added 30,200 jobs — a 1.9 percent increase — bringing total employment to more than 1.6 million jobs for the first time on record. sec
“Initial employment reports reflected a relatively flat trend through the year, but after reviewing individual reports from all employers in the state, this year’s job growth actually reflects a sustained expansion,” said DETR Chief Economist David Schmidt. “Nevada has more jobs today than at any point in its history, and employers are adding positions at a pace unmatched anywhere else in the country.” sec
Nevada’s job growth rate of 1.9 percent significantly outpaced South Carolina in the second spot at 1.3 percent, and was twice as strong as Arkansas and Missouri, which were tied for third. Hoodline
By February 2026, Nevada’s growth rate had climbed to 2.2 percent — more than double the growth rate of the second-fastest-growing state at 0.8 percent. It marked the first time Nevada ranked in the top five nationally for total jobs added over a 12-month period since the early 2000s. Review Journal
The strongest gains over the past year came in arts, entertainment and recreation, up 7.9 percent; information, up 7.2 percent; professional and business services, up 4.9 percent; and health care and social assistance, up 4.4 percent. Nevada ranked first or second nationally in job growth across those sectors. Review Journal
Officials said the revised numbers show stronger and more sustained growth than earlier estimates reflected. While tourism has been softer in recent months, employment gains continued across multiple sectors including construction, health care, business services and education. sec
“The fact that we have a favorable tax environment is probably part of what’s driving some of that growth,” Schmidt said, noting a jump in software publishing jobs. “More new businesses are starting in that industry — it’s growing and innovating.” Hoodline
By March 2026, Nevada had led the country in job growth for nine consecutive months. “For nine straight months, our state has led the nation in job growth because of our administration’s intentional efforts in building an environment where businesses can grow and succeed, slashing burdensome regulations, and creating real opportunity for hardworking Nevadans,” Governor Joe Lombardo said. Review Journal
Nevada’s labor force participation rate also rose slightly to 63.5 percent — 1.5 percent higher than the U.S. average. CDC Gaming