Nevada Journal of Public Health (2014) Pharr, et al. 55 Employment and Economic Development in Southern Nevada Jennifer Pharr, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. (702) 895-2006. Jennifer.pharr@unlv.edu Courtney Coughenour, Ph.D. Faculty in Residence, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Shawn Gerstenberger, Ph.D. Interim Dean, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Abstract Wealth influences a person‟s health. People who are higher on the socioeconomic scale tend to have better health outcomes. To improve the health of a community, it is important to understand the employment opportunities of the people living in the community. Southern Nevada‟s economy was hit hard between 2008 and 2012. Unemployment rates in the region exceeded national and peer regions between during this time period. Construction; leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation and utilities; and professional and business service sectors experienced the greatest job loss during the recession. The Education and Health Services sectors did not experience a decrease in the number of employees during the recession. With the economic recession, Clark County experienced a decrease in tourism; however, activity in this sector increased in 2011 compared to 2010. All occupational categories are projected to have positive growth between 2010 and 2020 with a combined growth projection of 11.4% during the decade. The region‟s working age population has a lower level of educational attainment compared to peer regions. This might be because 38.2% of occupations require less than a high school diploma and 43.1% require a high school diploma or equivalent in the region. The Education and Health Services industry sector did not experience a decrease in the number of employees during the recession and healthcare is one of the segments projected to have significant growth in the next decade. Introduction Socioeconomic status (SES) is a better indicator of health than genetics (Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, 2009). Employment can be used to predict a person‟s health. Marmot and Wilkinson (2006) found that health improves as a person ascends the SES ladder. The better job a person has, the better his/her health. Several factors may influence this relationship. Better jobs often equal better pay, more control over one‟s life and autonomy (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2006). When people have better pay, they are more able to pay for healthy food and preventive medical care; they are also more likely to live in neighborhoods where it is safe to be physically active. Control over one‟s life and autonomy can lead to lower levels of stress and stress related chronic diseases (Sapolsky, 2005). Better jobs equal better health outcomes. People who are unemployed tend to have higher levels of impaired mental health including depression, anxiety, and stress as well as higher levels of mental health hospital admissions, chronic disease (cardiovascular disease, hypertension, musculoskeletal disorders) and premature mortality (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2006). Additionally, unemployment is associated with unhealthy behaviors such as increased alcohol and tobacco consumption and decreased physical activity. Gainful employment provides the opportunity for income, access to health care and a higher SES. Nevadan‟s who are employed are four times more likely to have access to health insurance and two times less likely to delay seeking medical treatment due to cost (Pharr et al., 2012). The purpose of the manuscript is to describe the available data related to employment and economic development in Southern Nevada and suggest how improving these areas also contribute to health improvements for the region. Data on such existing conditions was used by members of the Southern Nevada Strong team to set goals and priorities for future development of the region. The overall goal of the Southern Nevada Strong project was to develop the Southern Nevada Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (SNvRPSD); a single, integrated and consolidated plan that will promote and guide sustainable regional development in