Date of publication: August 15, 2025, at 11:58 AM.
Last modified on: August 15, 2025, at 11:58 AM.
- Unemployment rate in Nevada remains steady since June
- 5.4% of Nevada’s workforce is unemployed, the highest in the U.S.
- Recent research ranks Nevada unfavorably for living conditions
The unemployment rate in Nevada has stabilized, as confirmed by the state’s Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR).
The unemployment rate in Nevada stood at 5.4% in July, unchanged from June. This figure surpasses the national average of 4.2% by 1.2%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nevada holds the unfortunate distinction of the highest unemployment rate in the country, with only Washington, D.C. exceeding it due to substantial federal job cuts during President Donald Trump’s administration.
A downturn in the tourism and convention sector is adversely affecting Nevada’s job landscape. Historically resilient, Las Vegas is facing concerns that its appeal is waning, with high costs, unfavorable odds, and persistent new fees pushing away potential visitors.
Positive Developments
Despite the challenges, there are some positive notes in Nevada’s job report.
According to DETR, Las Vegas saw a growth of 4,200 jobs (0.4%) since June and a 2,100 job increase (0.2%) since July 2024. Reno also reported slight employment gains.
“The report for July reflects stability in the labor market compared to June, as the unemployment rate remains unchanged. Although 1,100 jobs were added in the month, this increase was seen mostly in government employment and is likely linked to a typical decline in school district staffing from the previous month,” stated David Schmidt, chief economist at DETR.
However, Schmidt acknowledged that the private sector has seen job losses in five out of seven months in 2025.
Among Nevada’s largest employers are gaming and hospitality giants, such as MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, Station Casinos/Red Rock Resorts, and Boyd Gaming.
Living in Nevada
A recent report from WalletHub, a finance comparison platform, indicates that moving to Nevada may not be advisable.
In its 2025 rankings of the “Best States to Live In,” WalletHub placed Nevada at 45th among all states, only outperforming Alaska, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
Nevada’s scores were low across several key performance indicators, including affordability (ranked 39th), economic performance (44th), education and health (39th), and safety (41st). The sole metric where Nevada ranked in the top half was quality of life, where it placed 22nd.
WalletHub researchers utilized 51 metrics to create their rankings of the Best States to Live In, taking into account factors such as homeownership rates, housing expenses, income growth, poverty rates, education levels, insurance rates, restaurant density, crime rates, and average work hours per week.
Nevada received an overall score of 44.61, significantly lower than top-ranked Massachusetts, which scored 60.23 points. The average state score was approximately 52 points.
While WalletHub may not advocate for relocating to Nevada, online real estate leader Zillow highlighted Pahrump as the most sought-after retirement destination for 2024, a designation that met with mixed opinions from our readers.