NMDWS News:
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) has announced that New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in August, down from 4.2 percent in July and down from 4.3 percent in the previous year.
The national unemployment rate in August was 4.3 percent, up from 4.2 percent in July and up from 4.2 percent in August 2024.
Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 12,100 jobs, or 1.4 percent, between August 2024 and August 2025. The majority of gains came from the private sector. The private sector was up 7,400 jobs, or 1.1 percent, while the public sector was up 4,700 jobs, or 2.5 percent. Within the private sector, the private service-providing industries were down 700 jobs, or 0.1 percent, while employment in the goods-producing industries was up 8,100 jobs, or 7.5 percent, from the level in August 2024.
Four of the nine private industries reported gains compared to employment levels in August 2024. Within the goods-producing industries, mining and construction employment increased by 7,800 jobs, or 9.9 percent. Most job gains were in construction, which was up 6,900 jobs, or 12.6 percent, over the year. Mining was up 900 jobs, or 3.8 percent.
Manufacturing was up 300 jobs, or 1.0 percent. Within manufacturing, there were job gains in durable goods manufacturing and non-durable goods manufacturing.
Within the private service-providing industries, private education and health services posted a gain of 4,500 jobs, or 3.0 percent. Within the industry, all gains were in health care and social assistance, which was up 5,200 jobs, or 4.1 percent. Private educational services was down 700 jobs, or 3.2 percent. Financial activities was up 1,100 jobs, or 3.1 percent.
Professional and business services was down 2,000 jobs, or 1.6 percent. Leisure and hospitality employment was down 1,400 jobs, or 1.4 percent. Information was down 1,200 jobs, or 11.3 percent. Miscellaneous other services was down 1,200 jobs, or 4.2 percent.
Trade, transportation, and utilities employment was down 500 jobs, or 0.3 percent. Within this industry, transportation, warehousing, and utilities was down 400 jobs, or 1.3 percent; retail trade was down 400 jobs, or 0.4 percent; and wholesale trade was up 300 jobs, or 1.4 percent.
Within the public sector, local government was up 3,800 jobs, or 3.7 percent. Within local government employment, local government education added 3,700 jobs, representing an increase of 7.4 percent. Local government excluding education was up 100 jobs, or 0.2 percent. Employment in state government was up 2,200 jobs, or 4.0 percent. Within state government, most gains were in state government excluding education, which was up 1,800 jobs, or 5.4 percent. State government education was up 400 jobs, or 1.9 percent.
Federal government was down 1,300 jobs, or 4.3 percent, from its employment level in August 2024.
Further analysis will be provided in the Labor Market Review scheduled for release Sept. 26.
Data can be found online at the following locations: