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Big companies to bring more jobs to the valley

Posted at 10:09 PM, May 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-19 01:09:39-04

Amani McCord has spent months hunting for work. "About six months," she said. Finding a job isn't easy.  "It's pretty tough."

McCord's 6-year-old daughter, Amaya, was born with a congenital heart condition. Medicaid pays for most of that. But sometimes, McCord has to choose between covering rent, car payments or food bills. “It's struggle to decide what you're going to do, what's more important." McCord said.

That's why McCord hopes she can land a job at a big company now hiring. "I'm ready to go to work, like right now."

Amazon is currently trying to fill 500 new spots at its North Las Vegas facility. Resorts World will hire 3,000 new employees for its new hotel and casino planned for 2020.

Mike PeQueen,  an investment analyst and managing director with Hightower Las Vegas, said new businesses in the valley will employee thousands more people. "We're looking at a very steady employment situation in Las Vegas," PeQueen said. "Those big projects are just icing on the cake."

As the big companies lead the way, others will follow. "We're talking about subway sandwiches, dry cleaners and small construction companies," PeQueen said.

Those businesses will hire more workers. More jobs mean more people spending more money right here in the valley. "If a thousand people get a job and they average $40,000 a year, that's $40-million in new income coming into our community," PeQueen said.

McCord is jumping at the chance to get back to work. "I've already applied for Amazon."

PeQueen said while Las Vegas has added more jobs,  the number of high-quality positions hasn't kept up. He hopes companies like Amazon and Resorts World will do more to hire employees in executive roles as well as workers for warehouse positions.