SANTA FE — The governor’s office announced Friday that New Mexico added 11,200 payroll jobs over the 12 months ending in September, a 1.3% increase that surpasses the nation’s 0.3% growth rate. The administration said the state ranked seventh nationwide for annual job growth.
Seasonally adjusted data show a September dip
Federal figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, analyzed by the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, tell a slightly different story. The seasonally adjusted report shows New Mexico lost roughly 800 payroll jobs between August and September, after gaining 3,200 jobs the month before. The state’s unemployment rate remained at 4.7% in September, up from 4.2% a year earlier.
Private‑sector gains drive the annual increase
The governor’s office attributes the year‑over‑year gains largely to private‑sector growth. Private employers added 8,400 jobs, with seven of nine major industry categories posting increases. Health care and social assistance led with 3,700 new positions, a 2.8% rise. Construction added 2,800 jobs (5.1% growth), mining contributed 1,400 jobs, and manufacturing added 600.
Retail trade grew by 2,200 jobs (2.3%) and wholesale trade rose 3.3% over the year.
Government employment presents a mixed picture
According to the administration, federal government employment in the state fell by 2,000 jobs (a 7% decline), while local government added 4,200 jobs, including 2,700 in local education.
Officials stress diversification and resilience
Governor Lujan Grisham credited construction, manufacturing and health care for helping New Mexico weather broader economic pressures. “While high costs and tepid job growth squeeze families across the country, New Mexico is charging straight into those headwinds, and we’re gaining ground,” she said in the release.
New Mexico Workforce Solutions Secretary Sarita Nair echoed the sentiment, highlighting economic diversification as a key factor, especially as federal employment continues to contract. “Despite continued instability in the federal workforce, these numbers show that our efforts to diversify New Mexico’s economy are working,” Nair said.
September’s sector‑specific changes
The Joint Economic Committee’s September analysis found the private sector lost about 200 jobs that month. Construction added 1,000 jobs, while private education and health services each shed 700 positions, and the trade, transportation and utilities sector lost another 700.
Labor‑force participation slipped from 56.7% in August to 56.6% in September, a decline of 0.1 percentage points. Over the past year, the participation rate fell by 0.9 points, indicating fewer New Mexicans are either employed or actively seeking work.
Context and outlook
Although payroll employment remains above year‑earlier levels, the higher unemployment rate and modest decline in labor‑force participation suggest challenges remain. The figures are preliminary and subject to revision, with full data available through the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ New Mexico employment summary and the Joint Economic Committee’s September 2026 state employment analysis.
These numbers illustrate that while New Mexico’s annual job growth outpaces the national average, month‑to‑month fluctuations and labor‑force dynamics warrant continued attention from policymakers and community leaders.
Original reporting: Organ Mountain News (Las Cruces / Doña Ana County) — read the source article.
