December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025
Download the full PDF for New Mexico
Download the summary PDF for New Mexico
United States Employment Snapshot
In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.
In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.
New Mexico Employment Snapshot
In December, New Mexico added 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, New Mexico added 4,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Mexico added 12,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. New Mexico is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In December, New Mexico’s private sector added 2,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 11,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Mexico added 3,600 net private payroll jobs.
In December, employment in New Mexico rose by 1,333, and over the past 12 months it rose by 7,531.
New Mexico’s labor force participation rate rose to 57.7 percent in December from 57.6 percent and is tied for 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.
New Mexico Payroll Employment
New Mexico added 900 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, New Mexico added 4,600 jobs. New Mexico nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. New Mexico is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Mexico added 2,200 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, New Mexico added 3,600 jobs. New Mexico private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. New Mexico is tied for 18th 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 December were Education and Health Services (1,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (500).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-500) and Government (-1,300).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (4,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (2,800).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,100).
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 57.7 percent in December from 57.6 percent in the prior month.
New Mexico is tied for 47th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Mexico was 58.5 percent occurring in May 2017, and the 10-year low was 54.3 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.