By Associated Press

CARSON CITY — Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval announced last week that the state ranked second in the nation for private sector job growth in 2014.

The Republican governor said Thursday that the state added 40,700 new jobs last year, the second largest percent increase in the country behind North Dakota.

Nevada was ranked high in job growth in the years before the economic downturn, and bottomed out between 2008 and 2010. Sandoval said in a statement that the improved numbers meant the state’s economy was moving in the right direction.

The state’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation also reported Wednesday that Nevada’s jobless rate dropped to 7 percent in May, down from 7.1 percent recorded since January. It’s the first time the unemployment rate has dropped this year.