"It's impossible for anyone to say if they'll get their jobs back," says David G. Schwartz, director of the Institute for Gaming Research at UNLV and not someone normally given to pessimism. For instance, the Strip shed nearly 16,000 jobs in 1984 and didn’t recover until the opening of The Mirage, which led to a 1989-90 gain of 13,375 jobs (for a grand total of 68, 385). Similar troughs occurred in 1991-94 and 2002-05.
Strip employment peaked in 2008 at 114,465 souls, then dipped to 98,711 – the lowest level since 2004. The biggest job loss was in restaurant operations, which shed 5,000 jobs. Casino floors were second, bleeding 4,000 jobs, while general and administrative employees were reduced by 2,400.
Nationwide, the Great Recession’s impact was felt as follows, based on data published by the American Gaming Association:
Nevada: 24,819 jobs lost (-12.3%)
New Jersey: 2,208 jobs lost (-5.7%)
Mississippi: 3,001 jobs lost (-10.4%)
Louisiana: 342 jobs gained (2%)
Indiana: 183 jobs lost (-1.1%)
Missouri: 697 jobs lost (-6%)
Iowa: 705 jobs lost (-7.1%)
Pennsylvania: 3,257 jobs gained (55.5%)
Colorado: 252 jobs lost (-2.8%)
Michigan: 443 jobs lost (-5.2%)
Illinois: 628 jobs lost (-8.1%)
South Dakota: 125 jobs gained (7.6%)
The massive job increase in Pennsylvania reflects the opening of several new casinos, including Sheldon Adelson’s Sands Bethlehem. Louisiana was benefiting from construction-related jobs and other post-Katrina economic stimulus (although it’s been feeling the recession in 2010). South Dakota is the only state whose comparisons are of calendar years rather than fiscal years.
