Relocating to Las Vegas | Relocation Resources for Moving to Las Vegas

Plugging Into the Las Vegas Job Market
Your spouse has just been offered a promotion that requires relocating to the Las Vegas Valley. This is a wonderful opportunity for your family; however, it does pose a certain dilemma for you. You are now the “trailing spouse,” the person who follows a partner who is relocating to a new city. While your spouse is guaranteed a job, you are left to find one in an unfamiliar city. To assist you in your job search, this chapter of Relocating to Las Vegas has been designed to guide you through the process. The following pages offer an overview of the current Las Vegas job market, primary employment sectors, industry growth and employment resources.

LAS VEGAS VALLEY JOB MARKET
It is hard to discuss any U.S. job market without acknowledging the economic downturn that has led to job loss around the country. The good news is that national statistics, which are often a precursor to the Nevada job market, indicate steady yet slow turnaround. According to Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), employers in the public service-providing industry added 7,000 jobs, and private-service providers added 11,700 jobs. As job growth returns, and at a faster pace, the city finds itself on the mend.

REGIONAL WORKFORCE
Southern Nevada has a regional workforce of more than 1 million that continues to grow as more people relocate to area. The largest employer is the Clark County School District with more than 38,000 employees on its payroll. The majority of Southern Nevada students choose to continue education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), making it the eighth largest employer behind the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police with nearly 5,500 employees. Some of the finest healthcare facilities have established a presence in the valley to meet the demands of a growing community. The 4,000 patient beds and more than 15,000 qualified physicians collectively are provided by 15 full-service hospitals. The area also is served by a number of major Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and several nonprofit health-support organizations.

AREA GROWTH
In the last several years, many new and existing companies have decided that Las Vegas has a low tax and business-friendly operating environment perfectly suited for a successful company. These businesses, including Cricket Communications, Inc., TELUS Enterprise Solutions Corporation and College Loan Corporation, have provided a multimillion-dollar impact on the Las Vegas economy, according to the Nevada Development Authority.

A report issued recently from the Center for Business and Economic Research states, “U.S. disposable income and consumption expenditures generally increased through the first six months of the year, consumer confidence is improving and measures of international economic activity are on the upswing, and we have seen some gains in Clark County gaming revenue, convention attendance, and visitor volume.”

STAFFING SERVICES
Many personnel and/or staffing services in Las Vegas offer full-time or temporary placement. Client companies pay the fee for most full-time personnel services. There are a few personnel services where the applicant pays the fee, so it is important to determine who is responsible for any fees before registering with a service.

Many Las Vegas companies utilize temporary positions for an assortment of position types. Several temporary services specialize in specific types of jobs. Search online for companies in your neighborhood and call to find out what types of services they provide and if they have particular employment specialties. In a timid job market, temporary hires often turn into full-time positions. In fact, many companies prefer to hire through the temp-to-hire process. It gives both the applicant and the company a trial period before the temporary employee converts to the company’s full-time payroll.

NETWORKING—VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON
In this digital age, face-to-face networking seems to have fallen by the wayside, but studies indicate that more jobs are found through referrals than through online job searches. To network, jobseekers should contact everyone they know in their professional life. Jobseekers should be prepared to explain quickly about their skills and recent experience. Commonly referred to as the “15-second elevator speech,” being prepared with this overview can make a big difference. To learn more, visit www.15secondpitch.com, where you can discover ways to focus your thinking on what is most important.

Another useful online tool now essential for networkers and jobseekers is to join LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com), an online network of more than 25 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries. By staying “linked in” with your professional network, you’re always connected to people who may know of open positions or know of a contact at a company you might be interested in approaching. It’s about being more effective in your daily work and opening doors to opportunities using the professional relationships you already have.