Silver State Times

In newly analyzed data, Nevada ranks among the top states in the U.S. to be unemployed.

According to an index of information published by the U.S. Department of Labor and analyzed by The Center Square, Nevada is the seventh-best state in the country to be unemployed and collect unemployment benefits. 

The proportion of unemployed people receiving benefits in Nevada increased from 29.7% in 2019 to 87.9% in 2020, according to The Center Square. The national unemployment recipiency rate in the same time period increased from 27.7% to 77.6%.

The Reason Foundation reported on a study that found that cutting the unemployment benefit duration, as 26 states have recently done by cutting off federal benefits, can account for as much as a 61% increase in employment.

The article says that economists believe they find that "1.8 million additional jobs were created in 2014 due to the benefit cut." 

Additionally, it continues, saying that "almost 1 million of these jobs were filled by workers from out of the labor force who would not have participated in the labor market had benefit extensions been reauthorized."

The current unemployment rate in Nevada is 8.0% — 1.9% higher than the national average of 6.1%, The Center Square said. 

The average weekly unemployment benefit payout in Nevada is $672 when factoring in the federal $300 increase, The Center Square said. 

Department of Labor statistics reveal that obtaining unemployment benefits is easier for Nevadans relative to other states, with fewer occupations exempted from receiving benefits while employed, for example, as an elected official. This report was used in The Center Square analysis as well.

A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research revealed that two-thirds of workers who were laid off during the pandemic were making more on unemployment than they were at their jobs, a Sentinel-Record article said.