Elko County’s economy continued to prosper through the end of 2021, as key economic indicators maintained or expanded upon the positive trends reported throughout the year. Employment in the county held steady in December 2021, dipping 0.9 percent over the month to 26,399, which was down 0.9 percent the same month the prior year. The county’s monthly unemployment rate remained unchanged in December at 2.3 percent, an improvement of 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

Taxable retail sales in Elko County rose to $153.1 million in November, a 3.4 percent increase from the prior month and 16.6 percent higher than the prior year. On a trailing 12-month basis, Elko County’s taxable retail sales reached $1.79 billion, 1.2 percent higher than last year and an all-time high.

The tight labor market in Nevada has contributed to rising wages throughout the state, including Elko County. During the second quarter of 2021, average weekly wages in the county averaged $1,127, up 5.6 percent from the prior quarter. Both the wage level and growth rate exceeded figures for the state, where second quarter wages averaged $1,106 per week after rising 2.7 percent over the quarter. The average wage growth helped raise total private sector wages earned in Elko County to $268.5 million in the second quarter of 2021, 9.7 percent more than the prior year.

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