New Mexico Employment Report: May 2025

Overview of Unemployment Rates

In May 2025, New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2%, a slight decrease from 4.3% in April 2025, but an increase from 4.1% in May 2024. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2% in May 2025, up from 4.0% in May 2024.

Employment Growth and Sector Analysis

Total nonagricultural payroll employment in New Mexico grew by 18,700 jobs (2.1%) from May 2024 to May 2025. The private sector contributed the majority of this growth with an increase of 17,400 jobs (2.5%), while the public sector added 1,300 jobs (0.7%).

Private Sector Employment Gains

• Private service-providing industries increased by 5,900 jobs (1.0%).
• Goods-producing industries saw a significant rise of 11,500 jobs (11.0%).

Industry-Specific Employment Changes

1. Goods-Producing Industries
   • Mining and construction employment rose by 10,400 jobs (13.6%), with construction leading at 9,400 jobs (17.7%) and mining increasing by 1,000 jobs (4.3%).
   • Manufacturing employment grew by 1,100 jobs (3.9%), including:
     • Durable goods manufacturing: +300 jobs (1.9%)
     • Non-durable goods manufacturing: +800 jobs (6.5%)
2. Private Service-Providing Industries
   • Private education and health services increased by 5,800 jobs (3.9%), primarily driven by:
     • Health care and social assistance: +4,200 jobs (3.3%)
     • Private educational services: +1,600 jobs (7.8%)
   • Professional and business services rose by 2,800 jobs (2.3%).
   • Financial activities increased by 1,300 jobs (3.7%).
   • Trade, transportation, and utilities grew by 700 jobs (0.5%), with:
     • Wholesale trade: +500 jobs (2.4%)
     • Transportation, warehousing, and utilities: +200 jobs (0.7%)
     • Retail trade: unchanged
3. Declines
   • Leisure and hospitality employment decreased by 2,800 jobs (2.8%).
   • Information sector declined by 1,800 jobs (15.8%).
   • Miscellaneous other services dropped by 100 jobs (0.4%).

Public Sector Employment Trends

• State government employment increased by 2,000 jobs (3.4%), including:
  • State government excluding education: +1,600 jobs (4.9%)
  • State government education: +400 jobs (1.6%)
• Local government employment rose by 500 jobs (0.5%), with:
  • Local government education: +400 jobs (0.7%)
  • Local government excluding education: +100 jobs (0.2%)
• Federal government employment decreased by 1,200 jobs (4.0%).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The employment growth in New Mexico reflects progress toward SDG 8, which promotes sustained, inclusive economic growth and productive employment. The increase in private sector jobs, particularly in construction, manufacturing, education, and health services, supports the creation of decent work opportunities.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The rise in health care and social assistance jobs by 4,200 positions contributes to SDG 3 by enhancing access to quality health services and promoting well-being for all ages.

SDG 4: Quality Education

Employment growth in private educational services (+1,600 jobs) and public education sectors supports SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The expansion in manufacturing and construction industries aligns with SDG 9, fostering resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization, and innovation.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Job growth across diverse sectors, including professional and business services and financial activities, contributes to reducing inequalities by broadening economic participation.

Additional Information

Further detailed analysis will be provided in the upcoming Labor Market Review scheduled for release on July 1, 2025.

Data Access

Employment data and related resources are available online at:

• New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions – Employment Snapshot
• New Mexico Job Market Analyzer

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article focuses on employment rates, job growth across various sectors, and unemployment statistics, directly relating to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Employment gains in private educational services and government education sectors highlight the importance of quality education and related employment opportunities.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Job growth in health care and social assistance sectors connects to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Growth in manufacturing, mining, and construction sectors relates to building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 8 Targets
   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
   • Target 8.6: Substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training.
   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.
2. SDG 4 Targets
   • Target 4.c: Increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries.
3. SDG 3 Targets
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection and access to quality essential health-care services.
4. SDG 9 Targets
   • Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product.
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Unemployment Rate
   • The article provides the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for New Mexico and the national level, which is a key indicator for SDG 8 (Indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities).
2. Employment Growth by Sector
   • Data on job gains or losses in private and public sectors, including detailed industry-specific employment changes (e.g., construction, manufacturing, health services), serve as indicators for SDG 8 (Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment).
3. Education Sector Employment
   • Employment changes in private and public education sectors imply monitoring progress towards SDG 4 targets related to education workforce capacity.
4. Health Sector Employment
   • Employment growth in health care and social assistance sectors can be used as an indicator related to SDG 3 (Indicator 3.c.1: Health worker density and distribution).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ladailypost.com