Locals and voters across the country made it clear the economy is the number one issue facing us all. This was the main topic of discussion at the annual Outlook Event hosted by UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research.

Wednesday, local business leaders and economists gathered for a panel discussion at Fontainebleau, outlining the trends we’re seeing in Southern Nevada.

While the price of gas, groceries, and interest rates slowly drop, experts say our future looks bright. Let’s look at a breakdown of the top economic drivers here in the valley that we should all be watching in 2025.

For starters, local economists project healthcare to be the second biggest industry here in Southern Nevada by the next presidential election. Not surprising, the Las Vegas Medical District has seen substantial growth in recent years — including at UNLV’s Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine which opened back in 2017.