A Stern Glance

Joblessness surged nearly 1 percentage point in Las Vegas and Nevada from May to June, skyrocketing to 12.3 percent in the city and 12 percent statewide, the Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation said this morning.

Those numbers are up from just over 11 percent in May, and they’re also well above the 9.5 percent rate the nation posted in June.

In all, 169,800 Nevadans were out of work and seeking jobs in June, including 15,600 residents who lost their positions in June.

The state’s joblessness averaged 10.6 percent through mid-year, compared with 5.7 percent through the first six months of 2008.