Nevada Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.3% in January

State adds 2,000 non-farm jobs, but labor force participation also increases

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:56pm

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Nevada's unemployment rate increased to 5.3% in January, according to a report released by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR). The state added 2,000 non-farm jobs during the same period, and the labor force increased by 7,130 people compared to December. Nevada added 30,200 jobs compared to January 2025, representing a 1.9% increase over the past year.

Why it matters

The rise in Nevada's unemployment rate, despite job growth, reflects a more complex economic picture for the state. While the labor force participation rate also increased, indicating more people actively seeking work, the slight uptick in unemployment suggests the state's economic recovery may be uneven across different sectors and regions.

The details

The report from DETR includes annual adjustments to jobs, employment and unemployment statistics for 2025, after last year's government shutdown led to a delay in reports. The revisions show 28,600 more jobs in the state as of December 2025 and a growth rate of nearly 2%. In contrast, the national trend saw a downward revision of 862,000 jobs. Las Vegas employment increased by 1,500 jobs in January compared to December, a 0.1% increase. The area added 21,600 jobs compared to January 2025, a 1.9% increase. Nevada had 12,926 initial claims for unemployment insurance in January, a decrease of 926 claims from December but an increase from the 12,802 claims filed in January 2025.

  • Nevada's unemployment rate increased to 5.3% in January 2026.
  • The state added 2,000 non-farm jobs in January 2026 compared to December 2025.
  • Nevada added 30,200 jobs in January 2026 compared to January 2025, a 1.9% increase.

The players

Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR)

The state agency that released the report on Nevada's unemployment rate and job market data.

David Schmidt

The chief economist for DETR, who provided analysis on the report's findings.

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What they’re saying

“This report reflects a more accurate and improved view of Nevada's labor market compared to the end of 2025. Most striking is the upward revision in the estimate of total nonfarm jobs in the state.”

— David Schmidt, Chief Economist, DETR

“While the unemployment rate increased slightly to 5.3%, the state's labor force participation rate also rose to 63.6%, 1.5 percentage points higher than the national participation rate.”

— David Schmidt, Chief Economist, DETR

The takeaway

Nevada's economic recovery appears to be progressing, with job growth and increased labor force participation, but the slight uptick in the unemployment rate suggests the recovery may be uneven across different sectors and regions. The state's ability to revise its labor market data upward, in contrast to the national trend, indicates a more accurate picture of Nevada's economic performance.