Nevada Construction employment began to rebound to start 2026, with the sector putting on the best statewide performance by a wide margin.
In terms of seasonally adjusted data, Nevada gained 3,500 jobs month-over-month. This reflects a 3.2% increase after months of decline.
The current employment total is 114,200. Notably, this is a significant revision, as the December 2025 report listed the total number of Construction jobs at 101,800.
The highest Construction employment total to end a year was 142,200 in 2005. In 2006, the total continued to rise to 146,600 before falling to 137,700 by the end of the year.
With the roughly 10,000-job revision and the strong January, Construction is back up to 7.1% of total nonfarm employment in the Silver State, according to nevadaworkforce.com.
In terms of year-over-year data, the sector has gained 2,900 total positions. This reflects a 2.6% growth rate.
Construction was one of three sectors to report growth in Q1, with the others being Trade, Transportation and Utilities and Professional and Business Services. These two sectors only reported growth of less than half a percentage point.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We are including both seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted data. Seasonally adjusted data continues to change after it is originally posted. The wider array of data is intended to provide a more accurate view of the market.
Non-Seasonally Adjusted Construction Data
Non-seasonally adjusted Construction employment grew at a slightly slower rate, with a MoM increase of 1,500 jobs, or 1.4%.
This data set lists the total number of jobs at 111,300. YoY, the sector increased by 3,100 jobs, or 2.9%.
Non-seasonally adjusted data is split into two subcategories: Construction of Buildings and Specialty Trade Contractors. Construction of Buildings, the smaller of the two, remained completely flat MoM. The subsector has grown YoY by 200 jobs, or 1.1%.
The subsector now has 18,700 positions, having once peaked at 26,500 jobs. Currently, it makes up roughly 1.2% of nonfarm employment.
Specialty Trade Contractors, the largest of the two, experienced substantial growth to start 2026. The subsector increased by 1,700 jobs, which reflects a 2.1% growth rate.
In terms of YoY data, Specialty Trade Contractors increased by 2.8%, or 2,200 jobs. The subsector currently boasts 81,500 total positions, which is 5.2% of statewide nonfarm employment. The previous employment peak was 107,200 jobs.
Seasonally Adjusted Non-Construction Fields
The closely related Manufacturing sector experienced a slight decline to start the year. The sector dipped by just 200 positions MoM, which reflects a 0.3% decline.
With 68,100 total positions, the sector is just 400 jobs shy of its all-time high of 68,500. The sector has grown by 800 jobs over the course of the year, which is a 1.2% growth rate.
Like Construction, Manufacturing is also split into two subsectors: Durable Goods and Nondurable Goods. The larger of the two, Durable Goods, remained completely flat MoM at 46,000 jobs. This is tied with its all-time high. YoY, the subsector has grown by 2.4%, or 1,100 positions. Nondurable Goods only lost 200 positions MoM and is just 900 jobs short of its all-time high of 23,000 jobs.
Most sectors across Nevada remained relatively flat, although slight declines were commonplace. Only two sectors swayed by a full percentage point or more: Construction and Financial Activities. The latter lost 1% of its total employment MoM.
The largest sector in Nevada, Leisure and Hospitality, shed 400 jobs over the course of the month. The sector is still up 3,200 jobs YoY and makes up 22.7% of total nonfarm employment.
Unemployment Metropolitan Statistical Area Data
According to a report by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, unemployment throughout the state increased by 0.1% MoM to 5.3%. The labor force also increased by 7,130.
The report goes on to say, “The seasonally adjusted total number of nonfarm jobs in Nevada was 1,602,000, representing an increase of 1.9% over the past year and an increase of 2,000 jobs since December 2025.”
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area gained 1,500 jobs MoM and 21,600 jobs YoY. The Reno MSA shed 200 jobs MoM and gained 3,600 jobs YoY. The Carson City MSA lost 100 jobs MoM and gained 400 jobs YoY.
The report did not have an updated unemployment ranking for January 2026, but it is likely Nevada has remained one of the states with the highest unemployment rates in the country.
