LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — As Nevada struggles with one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, FOX5 delves into the major growth of one industry to bring more jobs: manufacturing.
The state added 1,000 manufacturing jobs from February 2025 to February 2026, according to Nevada’s unemployment agency. New data shows companies added 34,000 jobs last year, DETR said.
College of Southern Nevada has launched manufacturing programs to meet the incoming demand for workers. FOX5 toured the Debra March Center for Excellence in Henderson, right across the street from the incoming Haas Automation facility.
“There’s absolutely a demand for workers. We do not have the trained workers in the United States to handle all the jobs that are going to be created,” said Steve Benjamin, an advanced manufacturing instructor for CSN.
Instructors at the Center worked with local manufacturers to design an educational program, helping graduates be trained and ready for entry-level jobs, Benjamin tells FOX5. Many students have pivoted from gaming and hospitality industries.
“People can come in and improve themselves. And that’s really what this program is all about,” he said.
Many of the students in the program have their education fully funded by grants. Students also get a stipend to learn.
“As the organizations that are involved in the public good are working hard to bring manufacturing in, there’s going to be more and more jobs created. That’s very active right now,” he said.
The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance shared more about the statewide efforts to bring manufacturing companies and jobs to the Silver State, looking to lure companies from abroad.
“From a foreign direct investment standpoint, there’s a tremendous amount of innovation going on here. We are also the designee for Foreign Trade Zone 89. What that means is any advantages in terms of manufacturing, onshoring, bringing facilities here, there are tax advantages if you’re able to set yourself up in an FTZ zone,” said Danielle Casey of the LVGEA.
In Foreign Trade Zone 89, the number of FTZ operators for manufacturing will double in 2026 from seven to 14, according to the LVGEA.
“We are already a foreign trade destination and a location very well known. We simply need to build up our tools and resources to make sure that we are catering to that specific clientele and then also creating the business case,” Casey tells FOX5.
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