Adam Cortez has worked for years in the hospitality industry and is looking to switch careers.
But after sending out 200-plus applications in the past three years and getting only a few calls on them, he took a day off from work to attend a massive job fair on Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The 35-year-old southwest valley resident figured he would improve his chances by meeting recruiters and hiring managers in-person.
“Hopefully that will change something,” he said.
Clark County and EmployNV, a state-affiliated workforce system, hosted the 2026 Spring Job Fair in the Convention Center’s West Hall, saying the event is Nevada’s largest and longest-running free job fair.
Around 130 employers were registered to attend, and thousands of job-seekers showed up to meet them and hand out resumes.
They came looking for work in a job market that is far from ideal.
Las Vegas was shedding jobs toward the end of 2025 amid a prolonged tourism slump in America’s casino capital.
Employment in the Las Vegas area fell by 4,700 jobs from September to November, according to seasonally adjusted figures from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
Andrew Woods, director of UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research, said this week that Southern Nevada’s job market has been “tepid” since the beginning of 2025.
He noted that health care has been especially strong. But the construction industry has lost jobs, and there was a softening in professional and business services and in finance-related jobs, according to Woods.
Overall, Las Vegas’ job market isn’t freezing, “but it’s cold,” he said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Eli Segall at esegall@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0342.
