Job Search News

Nevada’s jobless rate climbed to 7.3 percent in September, which is the highest it’s been during the last 23 years, according to the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. More than 102,000 individuals were without jobs in Nevada.

To make matters worse, 4,700 of those without jobs in Nevada who were claiming unemployment in September exhausted their benefits, said Cy Ryan of the Las Vegas Sun. These individuals will no longer be receiving checks and will have to do without until they are able to find work.

David Schmidt, who is an economist with the department, told the newspaper that before this the highest number of unemployed in the state to use up their benefits was 4,565 residents in April 2002.

The national recession has effected Nevada jobs severely. Parts of the state rely heavily on tourism, such as Las Vegas. With the way the economy is, fewer people can afford to travel let alone gamble. Because of this, hotels, casinos and retailers are experiencing a sever drop in their profits. This, in turn, has caused them to scale back the number of Las Vegas jobs they provide.

With tourism and gaming down, several new additions to the industry have been put on hold. Because of this and the housing market slump, construction jobs in Nevada have fallen drastically.

Another problem that the area faces is that much of its workforce is uneducated in comparison to that of the rest of the country. According to the United States Bureau of Labor statistics, only 18.2 percent of residents have a bachelors degree and another 19.3 percent did not graduate from high school. In Las Vegas the percentage of high school drop outs is as high as 21.5.

The problem isn’t that there are no jobs in Nevada. The issue is there a few individuals who are properly trained for the positions available.

According to a company press release, AREVA and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, a sector of Northrop Grumman Corporation, have joined forces to build a new manufacturing and engineering facility in Newport News, Va., to supply the growing American nuclear energy sector.

The 300,000 square-foot facility represents a significant investment of more than $360 million in the U.S. commercial nuclear and manufacturing industries and will bring more than 500 jobs to Virginia.

“The nuclear power industry is bringing back ‘made in America’,” said Tom Christopher, CEO of AREVA Inc., the group’s North American division.

AREVA Newport News will be the first full-scale manufacturing facility dedicated to supply heavy components, such as reactor vessels, steam generators and pressurizers to the U.S. nuclear energy industry. These components will supply the first new U.S. nuclear power plants to be built in 35 years. Industry experts have viewed limited production of heavy components positioned against rising demand as a constraint on nuclear energy’s expansion.

“AREVA Newport News is powerful evidence of the reality of the U.S. nuclear energy resurgence and our commitment to it,” said AREVA CEO Anne Lauvergeon. “AREVA intends to build one-third of all new reactors around the world and at least seven in the United States. AREVA Newport News is a key step in our dual strategy to increase domestic content in the new nuclear power plants we build and to produce in dollars area. Together with our Chalon/St. Marcel plant in France, AREVA strengthens its capabilities to supply the global energy renaissance.”

AREVA has been manufacturing quality heavy components for the global commercial nuclear industry for more than 30 years at its Chalon/St. Marcel plant. Together with Northrop Grumman’s experience, AREVA Newport News will provide a secure domestic link in the supply chain for deploying the U.S. EPR and supporting a diverse energy mix that will mean safe, clean, affordable electricity for Americans.

Northrop Grumman’s Shipbuilding sector brings its heavy industrial engineering and manufacturing expertise and the culture of excellence required to build U.S. Navy nuclear ships to the venture. Along with its skilled workforce, Northrop Grumman has existing transportation access via the James River to deliver heavy components.

“This agreement is the result of several years of effort by both the AREVA and Northrop Grumman teams,” said Dan Arczynski, Vice President for Strategy, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. “The relationship that has formed between our great companies is grounded in similar cultures of heavy manufacturing excellence. This new venture will be good for both of our companies, the Commonwealth of Virginia and City of Newport News, and the future of manufacturing in America.”