Nevada Now Has Highest Unemployment Rate

The state of Nevada now boasts the highest unemployment rate in the US, finally beating out Michigan and it's dying manufacturing industries. Statistically, the official number is 14% unemployment. Unofficially, the "real" unemployment rate is probably much higher in Nevada and especially in the Las Vegas area.

There are about 190,000 Nevada residents without jobs, according to state figures. Yet the true figure is much, much larger due to the large number of Nevadans who have stopped filing for unemployment benefits.

The economy in Southern Nevada is probably the worst in the entire country and has yet to experience any of the recovery taking parts in most of the rest of the United States. It's kind of ironic since not too long ago Las Vegas boasted the fastest-growing economy, job market, and population of all major US cities.

Nevada's jobless rate has skyrocketed since the Great Recession began in 2007, jumping nearly 9 percentage points. With an economy that's nearly completely based around gaming, hospitality, and construction -- 3 of the worst-hit industries -- it's obvious the Nevada is going to have to take some big steps toward diversifying itself in order to create new jobs.

Learn some mo': Nevada leads the nation in unemployment