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The Las Vegas area is home to a host of successful businesses, from “mom-and-pop” stores to manufacturing facilities employing hundreds. While resort/tourism and gaming industries have a strong market presence and provide tens of thousands of jobs, a diversifying economy is providing many new career possibilities as well. According to Recruiting Nevada, over 167,000 jobs will be created in the Las Vegas area over the next 5 years. 

Substantial job growth and a friendly-business climate have earned Las Vegas accolades across the nation. In February 2007, Inc. named Las Vegas “Hottest City in America,” among large cities, and in 2006 Forbes magazine named Las Vegas as one of the top three best cities to find a job.

For more than a decade, some 50,000 people have opted to move to the greater Las Vegas area each year. The area’s employment growth remains unparalleled and continues to draw residents from across the country. According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (NVDETR), the Las Vegas metropolitan is growing at a rate of about 1.5 percent each year.

“In home building, college graduates are in high demand at the management level,” said Gary Mayo, group president of Toll Brothers Nevada division. “There’s a lot of buzz about the lack of qualified labor in construction, so we’re hungry for top performing, business-savvy college graduates.”

Employment in Las Vegas
Las Vegas has consistently maintained the highest new job growth in United States.

Since 1990, Las Vegas has also ranked number one in high-tech job growth (primarily high-tech services). Consequently, the Nevada labor force has increased by nearly 350,000 people in the last decade.

The 2007 Boyd Corporate Site Selection Leading Indicator Poll reports that Las Vegas has the most favorable business climate for new corporate investments in the West, beating cities such as San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angles.

Not surprisingly, the construction industry continues to be a major employer in Southern Nevada as the demand for residential, resort, office and industrial space continue to soar.

Here is a snapshot of key business sectors in the region:

–Construction
The construction industry remains one of the strongest and fastest-growing components of the Las Vegas economy, accounting for more than 110,000 jobs, according to Recruiting Nevada. According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (NVDETR), construction related jobs make up 11 percent the economy. 

The Vegas Strip is leading the charge with $35 billion worth of projects planned through 2010, reports the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. Construction plans will add 42,092 more hotel rooms, 2,562 timeshare units and 3.49 million square feet of convention space. Another $13 billion in tentative projects could also build 36,703 hotel rooms and 7,088 timeshare units.

The emergence of LEED-certified buildings in the valley has created a need for skilled construction personnel and design staff. While there are only a few LEED-certified buildings in Nevada, Las Vegans and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce are working hard to “go green.” 

–Distribution and Trade
With an excellent transportation and communications network, Las Vegas has become a hub for the interaction of western markets. Eighty percent of markets within 500 miles are served by overnight truck delivery at discounted rates, and the area serves as a business link between the Pacific Coast, the Sunbelt Southwest and international markets via McCarran International Airport (6th busiest across the U.S.) Employment figures from NVDETR for the Las Vegas MSA (metropolitan statistical area) reported 161,000 workers in the transportation and trade industry in 2007.

–Financial Institutions
The thriving Las Vegas economy has attracted the attention of several of the nation’s largest banks, including Bank of America, Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo. In total, more than 25 different banks serve the city, along with more than 15 credit unions and savings and loans. Southern Nevada also boasts an impressive array of community banks that combine and in-depth knowledge of the local market with a high degree of personalized service. NVDETR reports that 29,400 people are employed in the finance and insurance sector of the economy.

–Gaming
The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (NVDETR) reports that  Clark County has 274,000 people employed in all leisure and hospitality activities, an increase of 200 from September 2006. While that is only a 0.1 percent growth rate, the numbers for the rest of the decade are expected to shoot up sharply as the hotel/casino industry enters a new boom cycle. Despite the ever-increasing variety of accommodations, hotel room occupancy averaged 90 percent in 2007, according to the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. The Nevada Gaming Control Board reports that the gross gaming revenue for Clark County topped $10 million in 2006, more than enough to maintain Nevada’s status as number one in the nation for casino gaming.

–Government
The provision of service at the federal, state, and local levels makes government the third-largest, service-based employer in Southern Nevada. Las Vegas is the seat for Clark County, which includes the incorporated cities of Boulder City, Henderson, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. In addition to traditional government offices, there are those unique to the state, such as the Gaming Control Board, the federal facilities of the Nevada Test Site and Nellis Air Force Base, which continue to have a major impact on the local economy.

–Manufacturing and High Technology
Southern Nevada is becoming an increasingly valid and accepted market for manufacturing and high-tech industries, a result of corporate confidence in Las Vegas’ skilled labor force, continuing education resources, advanced communication infrastructure and accessibility to national and international markets.

The Las Vegas Perspective 2007 lists more than 1,100 manufacturing companies in Clark County with an annual payroll in excess of $281 million. Considering the region’s commitment to technological advancements and efficiency, as well as the diversity within the local manufacturing sector itself – from wood, plastic, and rubber products to stone, glass, and metals materials to measuring, exacting, and electronic instruments – the Las Vegas Valley stands prepared for future growth.

–Travel and Tourism
According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), some 32 million people visited Las Vegas as of September 2007. The Annual Visitor Profile Study from LVCVA shows about 60 percent of the “spending money” (beyond hotels and transportation) visitors bring to Las Vegas goes to gambling, about 25 percent is spent in the city’s hundreds of restaurants and bars and the remainder goes to shopping. While the total tourist budget continues to trend upward, Las Vegas’ growing reputation as a dining showcase and shopping mecca have seen significant increases in those areas in recent years.

With the addition of millions of square feet of new retail space – including plans for several new mega-malls – and the growing number of highly rated restaurants throughout the valley, “food and fashion” will almost certainly continue to attract more visitor dollars and open more business opportunities in 2008 and beyond.

According to the 2007 Las Vegas Perspective, a slew of mega-resort projects including a $7 billion mixed-use MGM Mirage Project CityCenter are being constructed on the Las Vegas Strip and top talent, including electricians, engineers, project managers and superintendents are in great demand. 

The largest non-gaming component of area visitor income is conventions, which currently accounts for about 15 percent of all visitors. In an effort to raise that to 20 percent by 2009, the LVCVA announced a master plan enhancement project of the Las Vegas Convention Center as part of the LVCVA’s five-year vision plan designed to expand on the destination's growth and reach the goal of a record-setting 43 million visitors by 2009.

Las Vegas Work Environment
–Workforce
While Southern Nevada’s economic engine is running at full force, business and economic development executives are giving greater focus to other aspects necessary to the creation and maintenance of a strong local economy: economic diversification and workforce development.

Today, Las Vegas is home to more than a dozen hospitals and major medical centers, more than 300 public schools and countless new housing communities that offer residents a variety of lifestyle choices. High-tech companies are finding opportunities for growth and expansion as the valley’s Cheyenne Technology Corridor continues to develop its offerings. The financial services sector is growing as well as banks continue to form and open branches. Both commercial and residential real estate continue to boom despite some recent challenges.

These workforce opportunities have increased the demands for a diversified workforce in fields such as financial services, professional and business services such as management and administrative and support services, education and health services and within the federal, state and local governments.

According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (NVDETR), there are more than 910,000 people in the Las Vegas-Paradise MSA, and the area is projected to continue as a leading employment center.

Job Search Tips
Employment experts advise to search for work with a positive attitude and determination. Job leads can come from many sources, including talking to people, checking out personnel services, answering newspaper ads, searching the Internet and inquiring about local professional networks and hotlines in specific industries.

Like the city of Las Vegas, the state of Nevada is one of the fastest growing states in the country, and as such, is in constant need of medical, educational, government and gaming professionals.

Recruiting Nevada is a Las Vegas-based recruitment company that assists employers with their recruitment needs by attracting talented and educated professionals to the Silver State, both online and through other innovative media.

For job seekers, Recruiting Nevada provides online job search engines that are both industry-broad and industry-specific. To search for jobs openings across various industries, job seekers can go to RecruitingNevada.com

Another useful resource for job seekers is the Trailing Spouse Program. According to RecruitingNevada.com, the program is a joint venture between the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the Las Vegas business community, Clark County School District and the health care industry that gives special assistance to families of incoming teachers and health care professionals.  The program encourages Las Vegas’ top employers to pay special attention to resumes submitted by family members of teachers and healthcare professionals.

Nevada JobConnect is part of a local/state network dedicated to developing the workforce of Nevada. The network is comprised of the statewide efforts of the Workforce Investment Board coupled with planning and service provision on a regional level by two local workforce boards.

Nevada JobConnect provides workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Nevada. Nevada JobConnect offers career development information, job search resources, training programs and as appropriate, unemployment benefits information. Services for employers include recruiting, retention, training and outplacement services as well as valuable information on labor laws and labor market statistics. To learn more about Nevada JobConnect, visit www.nevadajobconnect.com.

Another great job search resource is the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Many jobs are advertised in the newspaper’s employment section. For job listings visit www.lvrj.com.

Other avenues for job hunting include searching the Web pages of large and mid-size companies. Local librarians are good at helping job-seekers find directories that list companies in specific fields. University alumni magazines and directories often list current companies and titles of graduates. In addition to the Clark County Public Library, job seekers can visit libraries at area colleges and universities.

Resume Services
The value of having a strong resume cannot be overstated, as resumes are an important part of the interview process. For this reason, resumes and cover letters should be targeted to a specific industry or business.

Your resume should be clean, concise and accurate, emphasizing your best qualities and your most recent experience. Resumes should be no longer than two pages, but a one-page resume is recommended. Potential employers will take an average of 20 seconds to scan a resume to determine if they’ll read further. In large companies, human resource personnel who know little about a particular type of work often prescreen resumes.

Your resume should encourage the reader to take a closer look at your qualifications and invite you in for a personal interview. Books on resumes are available at libraries and bookstores and can provide you with tips on how to make your resume stand out from your competition. You could also use any one of Las Vegas' many resume services to help you prepare a professional-looking document. You may find local copy facilities also employ desktop publishing professionals who have experience in writing resumes.

Using Technology
Computer technology allows individuals to network with people around the country and the world, access information on job openings in other locations, broadcast resumes and research potential employers - all from a home or office. While electronic job search strategies are no substitute for direct, face-to-face contact and other more traditional strategies, they provide many opportunities to gain an advantage in a competitive job market.

For a listing of employment firms, go to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Web site, www.lvchamber.com and click on “Business Directory.” Type in “employment” and you will obtain a list of reputable firms in the area, including street addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Some of the agencies provide additional information.

Networking
The ability to network is considered as important in finding a job as combing through classified ads. To network, job seekers should contact everyone they know in the area. Professionals also can find contacts by attending seminars, conferences, community meetings, volunteer groups, hobby clubs and professional association activities.

Las Vegas is home to local chapters of professional associations in almost every field. Contact professional organizations in fields of interest through the telephone directory or the Encyclopedia of Associations, which is found in most libraries. Job hunters also may contact people who work in a specific field to inquire about professional associations in the Las Vegas area.