Las Vegas Job Market Struggles as Tourism Declines

Las Vegas faces one of the highest unemployment rates among major metropolitan areas in the country, highlighting continued problems in the city’s tourism-based economy.

Nevada Expert Says Job Scene Unchanged Despite Lower Numbers

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the region’s unemployment rate reached 5.6% in August, making it the fourth highest among metropolitan areas with populations over one million. Fresno, California, had a worse rate at 7.9%. In contrast, Birmingham, Alabama, and Honolulu showed the lowest rates, both at 2.5%.

The August numbers showed a small uptick from July when Las Vegas had 6% unemployment, sharing the third-highest spot among big US cities. However, experts warn that the drop does not mean the economy is getting better.

David Schmidt, lead economist for Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, said that changes in how many people are working or looking for work partly explain the change. Over 2,000 people stopped being part of the workforce between July and August, so they were not counted as jobless anymore. At the same time, job numbers adjusted for normal seasonal changes showed a loss of more than 4,000 jobs in the Las Vegas area during that time. Schmidt called Nevada’s job market “unchanged.”

The numbers tell part of the tale of fewer visitors and less spending by consumers. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, about 25.8 million people came to the city from January through August 2025. This represents a drop of almost 8% from the same time frame last year. In real terms, this means over two million fewer tourists visited Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Sees Drop in Clark County Sales as Tourist Spending Declines

The economic slump has hit local businesses hard. Data on taxable sales from the Nevada Department of Taxation showed that bars and restaurants in Clark County brought in about $12.7 billion during the last fiscal year, a drop of 2% from the year before. While this percentage might seem small, it means people spent around $256 million less. Sales in retail sectors that cater to both tourists and locals have also taken a hit. Purchases of clothing, shoes, and jewelry fell by about 3% compared to the previous year, a decrease of $139 million.

The slowdown is happening even as the Las Vegas Strip gets ready for big events, including the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix in November. Workers are already putting up temporary grandstands near the Bellagio Fountains. This is part of a plan to bring back visitors who spend a lot of money in the city. Right now, though, Las Vegas is still one of the job markets hit hardest in the country. Its economy still depends on how many tourists come and go.