NMDWS News:
New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in February, up from 4.5 percent in January and up from 4.1 percent in the previous year. The national unemployment rate in February was 4.4 percent, up from 4.3 percent in January and up from 4.2 percent in February 2025.
Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 700 jobs, or 0.1 percent, between February 2025 and February 2026. The private sector was up 1,600 jobs, or 0.2 percent, while the public sector was down 900 jobs, or 0.5 percent. Within the private sector, the private service-providing industries were up 2,900 jobs, or 0.5 percent, while employment in the goods-producing industries was down 1,300 jobs, or 1.2 percent, from the level in February 2025. Two of the nine private industries reported gains compared to employment levels in February 2025.
Within the goods-producing industries, manufacturing was down 1,000 jobs, or 3.5 percent. Within manufacturing, durable goods manufacturing was down 800 jobs, or 5.0 percent, and non-durable manufacturing was down 200 jobs, or 1.6 percent. Mining and construction employment was down 300 jobs, or 0.4 percent, from its level in February 2025. Within mining and construction, a gain of 1,000 jobs, or 4.1 percent, in mining was offset by a loss of 1,300 jobs, or 2.4 percent, in construction.
Within the private service-providing industries, private education and health services experienced a gain of 3,700 jobs, or 2.4 percent. Within the industry, most gains were in health care and social assistance, which was up 2,800 jobs, or 2.2 percent. Private educational services was up 900 jobs, or 3.9 percent. Trade, transportation, and utilities employment was up 2,200 jobs, or 1.5 percent. Within this industry, retail trade was up 2,100 jobs, or 2.2 percent; wholesale trade was up 300 jobs, or 1.4 percent; and transportation, warehousing, and utilities was down 200 jobs, or 0.6 percent, from the previous year’s level. Professional and business services was down 1,400 jobs, or 1.2 percent. Information was down 1,000 jobs, or 10.5 percent. Leisure and hospitality employment was down 400 jobs, or 0.4 percent. Miscellaneous other services was down 100 jobs, or 0.4 percent. Financial activities was down 100 jobs, or 0.3 percent.
Within the public sector, state government was up 1,900 jobs, or 3.2 percent. Within state government employment, state government excluding education added 1,700 jobs, representing an increase of 5.1 percent. State government education was up 200 jobs, or 0.8 percent. Employment in local government was down 100 jobs, or 0.1 percent. Within local government, all gains were in local government excluding education, which was up 1,500 jobs, or 3.0 percent. Local government education was down 1,600 jobs, or 2.9 percent. Federal government was down 2,700 jobs, or 9.2 percent, from its employment level in February 2025.
Further analysis will be provided in the Labor Market Review scheduled for release on April 29.
Data can be found online at the following locations: https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Researchers/Data/Employment-Snapshot and www.jobs.state.nm.us/analyzer/