Job growth in Nevada slowed in October, though the unemployment rate fell to 7.1%. The construction industry had the 2nd-fastest year-over-year job growth of any industry in the state, according to the monthly employment report issued by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR).

Construction had held the title as the fastest-growing industry in Nevada for eight straight months but fell to second place in October. The industry added 2,100 jobs in the last year, a growth rate of 3.5%. After maintaining year-over-year job growth near or above double-digits for most of 2014, construction’s job growth momentum slowed as the industry shed 2,300 jobs in October, on a seasonally-adjusted basis.

Hiring has slowed for Specialty Trade Contractors in Nevada. With 41,600 jobs, according to DETR, employment with these companies declined by 500 (or 1.2%) during the last year and they lost 1,000 jobs in October.

The construction industry lost 1,200 jobs in October in Clark County and employment has fallen by 500 since October 2013. Specialty Trade Contactors in Clark County lost 900 jobs in October and employment in this sub-industry is down by 2,200 (7.3%) in the last year.

Though the construction industry lost 300 jobs in Washoe and Storey Counties during October, employment by firms in this industry is up by 200 in these counties compared to a year ago, according to DETR. Sub-industry and county data are not seasonally adjusted.

DETR’s October report included an analysis of the fastest-growing occupations with above-average wages in Nevada since 2010. With 1,100 jobs added during this period and average hourly wages of $24, carpenters are the third-fastest growing occupation in this study.

The DETR report also estimates that, by 2017, more than 40,000 construction jobs will have been created since the trough of the recession.

Overall Nevada lost 7,300 jobs on a seasonally-adjusted basis in October. DETR reported a raw gain of 1,000 jobs, less than the expected 8,300 gain. However, the job gains were enough to reduce the Silver State’s unemployment rate to 7.1%.

Despite the relatively slow gains in October, Nevada’s recent job growth exceeds that of all but 2 states.

DETR also reports that Nevada’s year-over-year gain in the Housing Price Index is highest in the nation. Including those recent gains, Nevada’s reading has improved by 53% since housing prices bottomed out in the state, according to the index released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.