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to add jobs did," Aguero said. "The growth we're seeing now is predicated more on increased demand, and that has been somewhat modest. We haven't seen substantial increases in incomes, and consumers are still dealing with a host of issues, not the least of which is debt, household and otherwise."

In the long run, though, experts agree February's numbers won't hold back the economy's steady drive toward revival.

"Is our economy all of a sudden shifting into reverse? No, because the tourism industry is showing fairly substantial strength," Aguero said. "That industry represents 20 percent of our direct employment (in Las Vegas), and nearly 40 percent of indirect employment. That will continue to have positive impacts on the balance of the economy."

Just look at gains in other indicators, Anderson said. State taxable sales have risen 19 months in a row. Gaming win, though volatile, is trending up. Las Vegas enjoyed its second-best year ever in 2011 for visitor volumes. And despite February's weakness, the state had 14,000 more jobs in the first two months of 2012 than in the same period in 2011.

"When you put the whole picture together, we are looking at an economy and labor market slowly on the mend, but not with enough underlying strength for uninterrupted improvement every month," Anderson said. "There are always monthly fluctuations, especially early in a recovery, but the overall trend is one of moderate improvement."

The U.S. jobless rate averaged 8.3 percent in February. Nevada has led the nation in unemployment since May 2010.

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT

Estimates for February 2012

Nevada* 12.3%

Las Vegas 12.2

Reno-Sparks 12.2

Carson City 12.7

Elko 6.7

United States* 8.3

California (January) 10.9

NEVADA LABOR FORCE

Estimates in thousands

Feb. 2012 Feb. 2011 Change

Total labor force 1,370.6 1,387.9 - 1.2%

Unemployment 168.0 189.4 - 11.3

Total employment 1,202.6 1,198.5 0.3

Mining 15.2 13.0 16.9

Construction 47.2 52.1 -9.4

Service industries 1,013.5 1,006.1 0.7

Hotels, gaming 191.8 186.3 3.0

Government 148.6 154.6 - 3.9

LAS VEGAS LABOR FORCE

includes Clark and Nye counties in Nevada, Mohave County in Arizona

Estimates in thousands

Feb. 2012 Feb. 2011 Change

Total labor force 981.7 995.5 - 1.4%

Unemployment 120.1 139.7 - 14,0

Total employment 861.6 855.8 0.7

Mining 0.2 0.2 0.0

Construction 35.1 37.9 -7.4

Service industries 744.6 769.8 0.6

Hotels, gaming 163.6 157.0 4.2

Government 93.4 96.8 -3.5

Note: Unemployment rates based on unrounded data

*Seasonally adjusted.

SOURCE: Research and Analysis Bureau, Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation