Total employment in Elko County rebounded in December 2017, ending five consecutive months of decline. Despite that trend, year-over-year employment increased for seven straight months to close the year at 26,031, a 3.1 percent increase over the prior year. The county’s annual job growth was in line with statewide employment trends, as Nevada’s employment total grew 3.3 percent over the year. The mining and natural resources and construction industries have been leading Elko County job growth, with year-over-year increases of 5.0 percent and 11.7 percent, respectively, through the second quarter of 2017 (latest data available). Overall job growth helped lower the county’s unemployment rate to 3.3 percent in December, the lowest level since November 2007. Nevada’s unemployment rate stood at 4.7 percent, and within the state only Eureka County’s 2.6 percent unemployment rate beat Elko County’s mark.

Gross gaming revenue in Elko County totaled $282.6 million in 2017, a 5.2 percent annual increase that was the highest year-end growth rate since 2007. By comparison, statewide gaming revenue grew by 2.8 percent in 2017. Trailing 12-month totals for taxable retail sales in Elko County declined on a year-over year basis for 13 consecutive months through December 2017. However, that month reported a single-month total of $134.3 million, the highest level in two years, resulting in a slight decline in annual taxable sales of 0.2 percent

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