January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
New Mexico Employment Snapshot
In January, New Mexico added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, New Mexico added 2,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Mexico added 12,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. New Mexico is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, New Mexico’s private sector added 1,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Mexico added 1,800 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in New Mexico rose by 1,863, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,715.
New Mexico’s labor force participation rate rose to 57.8 percent in January from 57.7 percent and ranks 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.
New Mexico Payroll Employment
New Mexico added 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, New Mexico added 2,300 jobs. New Mexico nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. New Mexico is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Mexico added 1,100 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, New Mexico added 1,800 jobs. New Mexico private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. New Mexico is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during January were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (900) and Government (600).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Mining and Logging (-400) and Education and Health Services (-500).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (3,800) and Construction (3,000).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Other Services (-400) and Information (-600).
New Mexico Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in New Mexico rose to 57.8 percent in January from 57.7 percent in the prior month.
New Mexico ranks 47th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Mexico was 58.4 percent occurring in May 2015, and the 10-year low was 54.1 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.