February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 29.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.
In February, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 23. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Alaska.
New Mexico Employment Snapshot
In February, New Mexico added 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, New Mexico added 3,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Mexico added 11,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. New Mexico is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In February, New Mexico’s private sector added 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Mexico added 2,800 net private payroll jobs.
In February, employment in New Mexico rose by 629, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,419.
New Mexico’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.8 percent in February 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 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, New Mexico added 3,400 jobs. New Mexico nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. New Mexico is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Mexico added 500 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, New Mexico added 2,800 jobs. New Mexico private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. New Mexico is tied for 8th 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 February were Construction (1,100) and Education and Health Services (500).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-700).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (6,500) and Education and Health Services (4,000).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-700) and Information (-1,100).
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 remained unchanged at 57.8 percent in February.
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 fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.