In overseeing everything from employee recruitment and retention to labor law compliance and beyond, Nevada’s human resource managers and specialists benefit from the state’s high-growth industries, which in recent years has included the high-tech, medical, and hospitality industries. In fact, Nevada’s economic diversification has led to a broadened economic base, economic growth, and more employers that are ready to hire.
More companies and more employees within those companies emphasize the need for professionals in human resources who nurture the employer-employee relationship and protect a company’s most important resource: human capital.
Growth in the number of HR management jobs mirrors the strong economy in Nevada and highlights plenty of opportunities for careers in human resources.
The Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation identifies the following employment trends among human resource management professionals through 2026:
HR Management Roles
- Human Resources Managers: 980 employed in 2016 with 230 new positions expected to open up by 2026
- Training and Development Managers: 200 professionals needed statewide by 2026to meet projected demand
Non-managerial HR Roles
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists: 440 professionals needed statewide by 2026 to meet projected demand
- Human Resources Assistants: 1,310 professionals needed statewide by 2026 to meet projected demand
- Training and Development Specialists: 2,550 employed in 2016 with 3,170 expected by 2026
- Labor Relations Specialists: 720 professionals needed statewide by 2026 to meet projected demand
- Human Resources Assistants: 1,310 professionals needed statewide by 2026 to meet projected demand
One of the easiest ways to track where the human resources jobs in Nevada are is to take a look at the state’s largest employers, most of which are found in Las Vegas’ hospitality, gaming, and tourism industry:
- MGM Resorts International: 54,250 employees
- Caesars Entertainment Corp.: 27,860
- Station Casinos LLC: 13,000
- Wynn Resorts: 11,720
- Boyd Gaming Corp.: 9,350
- Nellis U.S. Air Force Base: 9,185
- Las Vegas Sands Corp.: 8,630
- Boyd Gaming Corp.: 9,350
- Las Vegas Sands Corp.: 8,630
- Walmart Stores: 6,475
- Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas: 5,330
- The Valley Health System: 5,267
Education and Certification Options for Human Resources Professionals
Jobs in human resources, particularly those for managerial-level and executive positions, generally require a solid educational foundation, which is achieved through the completion of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in human resources or a related field.
Bachelor’s Degrees in Human Resources
There are different types of bachelor’s degrees available in human resources that may be structured as conventional BA or BS programs, while Bachelor of Business Administration(BBA) programs have a decided focus on business leadership.
However, all bachelor’s degree programs in human resources offer similar core coursework in human resources, such as:
- Organizational communication
- Conflict management in organizations
- Human resource management
- Stress management in the workplace
Master’s Degrees in Human Resources
Master’s degrees in human resources provide students with the education needed to achieve a number of senior-level human resources positions, such as:
- HR Director
- Labor Relations Specialist/Manager
- Human Resources Business Analyst
- Human Resources Consultant
- Talent Acquisition Specialist/Manager
In addition to standard MA and MS options, Master of Business Administration (MBA)programs with an HRM concentration as well as master’s in Organizational Development with a specialization in Human Resources are also available.
While students may choose a general course of study in human resources, master’s degree programs also frequently provide concentrations that provide the ideal opportunity for students to focus on a specific area within human resources, such as labor law, compensation and benefits, or recruitment and selection.
Admission into these programs often requires the completion of specific undergraduate courses in business and finance, and many programs require a minimum undergraduate GPA.
Although grounded in different areas of study, all master’s degree programs in human resources prepare students to serve as business leaders who can apply strategic thinking and critical analysis and use their knowledge to best leverage the human resources of an organization.
Coursework found in a master’s degree in human resources management often includes:
- Workforce Planning & Employment
- Human Resource Development
- Compensation Management
- Global Human Resource Management
- Business Analytics
- Collective Bargaining and Labor Relations
- Information Systems Management
Professional Certification for Professionals in Human Resources
Business leaders in human resources management often choose to earn a professional designation in human resources as a way to indicate to others their commitment to the profession. Although voluntary, many employers seek candidates who possess a nationally recognized professional certification, such as:
Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- SHRM-CP (certified professional)
- SHRM-SCP (senior certified professional)
HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
- Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR)
- Associate Professional in Human Resources – International (aPHRi)
- Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
- Professional in Human Resources – International (PHRi)
- Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
- Senior Professional in Human Resources – International (SPHRi)
- Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)
International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR)
- Certified Professional (IPMA-CP)
- Senior Certified Professional (IPMA-SCP)
What Nevada’s Employers Look for in a Human Resource Professional
Job descriptions from recent posts provide an insight into what type of job responsibilities are associated with human resources professionals in Nevada and what it takes to qualify for a job in this field.
The following job posts detail both the job duties and the job requirements for a number of management/supervisory careers in human resources in Nevada, and are shown for illustrative purposes only:
Human Resources Analyst: Wyndham Vacation Ownership, Las Vegas
This position consists of performing data analysis related to human resources talent management strategies, supporting HR senior leaders and internal business partners, and supporting the HR team in their administration of HR policies, procedures, and practices.
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree and knowledge of the general principles and practices of HR management.
Senior Human Resources Generalist: Regional Transportation Commission, Las Vegas
This position involves performing complex professional-level human resources duties involving recruitment and selection, compensation, benefits administration, organizational development and training, employee relations, and contract administration.
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a closely related field and at least 4 years of demonstrated professional experience in one or more human resources disciplines.
HR Generalist: SLS Las Vegas
This position involves supporting the HR business partner in serving the HR needs of designated departments. This includes assisting in recruiting and staffing to ensure the right talent is sourced and onboarded within the organization and providing guidance on interpreting policies and ensuring the leadership within operating departments is able to manage and deliver customer service.
Preferred candidates will possess a bachelor’s degree in human resources, a PHR certification, and at least 3 to 5 years of experience working within HR.
HR Specialist, Labor Relations: MGM Resorts, Las Vegas
This position involves tracking major labor and employment-related legislation in order to bring to the attention of the organization any potential adjustments to policies and procedures, as well as collecting and analyzing employment data as a way to better anticipate grievance trends.
Preferred candidates will possess a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, business administration, human resources, or a related field, PHR or SPHR certification, and at least one year of human resources generalist or related experience.
Employee Relations Manager: Clark County, Las Vegas
This position involves planning, organizing, assigning, supervising, reviewing, and evaluating the work of professional staff performing employee relations, Title VII investigations, and ADA accommodation activities, including research, contract interpretation and administration, and other employee relations activities.
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in business, human resources management, or a related field, along with at least 4 years of professional-level human resources work in the area of employee and labor relations.
Resources for Nevada’s HR Professionals
- State of Nevada, Human Resource Management
- Northern Nevada Human Resources Association
- Southern Nevada Society for Human Resource Management
Salary and employment data compiled by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2018 for human resources managers, specialists, and assistants – https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nv.htm#11-9111. The BLS salary data shown here represents median – 90th percentile salary ranges for the state and its MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries.
Job growth projections sourced from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation and published in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2016-2026) database – https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and job growth data accessed in October 2019.
Examples of HR positions were taken from a survey of job listings in the state at the time of this writing and are shown for illustrative purposes only. These examples do not represent job offers or positions that are currently available.