US Labor Secretary visits Las Vegas to discuss how to return to pre-pandemic employment

How will the White House spend your money, to get people back to work?

Labor Secretary Martin Walsh talked to Las Vegas locals about getting our economy back to full speed.

This roundtable with Walsh, along with House members Steven Horsford and Susie Lee focused on the benefits of youth employment.

"It also helps us stem the issues of violence, particularly gun violence in our community," said Horsford. "So, by giving young people an opportunity to a good job through training, we're addressing many priorities in our community."

During the morning roundtable on immigrant employment, Walsh said he realizes the local economy is heavily reliant on hospitality.

That's why -- in the short term -- he wants COVID-19 vaccinations stepped up.

"We really have to encourage people to get vaccinated, encourage people to take care of themselves, their family, and, and you know it's not just physical health care, but it's also for your jobs there. So we have to do more," Walsh said.

And the long term, allocate tax dollars in the infrastructure bill before congress for job training to help diversify the local economy.

"Creating opportunities to attract more diverse businesses to the city and the town, and then on the build back better agenda, there are $100 million dollars into job training and workforce development," said Walsh.

Yarleny Roa-Dugan, a steward with the local S.E.I.U says those jobs need to be more than part-time.

"Not just any jobs, but jobs that give people the good benefits and good wages," Roa-Dugan said.

It's worth noting that in the most recent employment report, Nevada added more than 15,000 new jobs, many of them in hospitality.

The state's unemployment rate continues to hover at just below 8%.