(Las Vegas, NV)  –  Nevada’s unemployment inched up in July, but so did the number of new jobs available, according to the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

Statewide, the rate rose 0.4 of a percentage point, to a seasonally adjusted 12%. That’s down 0.2% from this time last year and two points below the recessionary peak of 14%. Las Vegas unemployment was 12.9% in July.

Over the past 12 months, 10,300 new jobs have been added in the state.  12,600 of those in private businesses, which helped offset losses in the public sector.

“I am pleased that job growth continued for a 13th consecutive month, but against the backdrop of a weak national economy not all the news was good,” Governor Brian Sandoval said. “As part of Nevada’s slow recovery, our state experienced a slight uptick in unemployment in July, as occurred in the country as a whole. This news is further evidence that we must continue business development efforts to attract new companies and support the expansion of existing companies to get more Nevadans back to work.”