Staff Reports
New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7% in September, unchanged from the rate in August and up from 4.2% in the previous year. The national unemployment rate in September was 4.2%, up from 4.1% in August and down from 4.4% in September 2025.
Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 11,200 jobs, or 1.3%, between September 2025 and September 2026. The private sector was up 8,400 jobs, or 1.2%, while the public sector was up 2,800 jobs, or 1.5%. Within the private sector, the private service-providing industries were up 3,600 jobs, or 0.6%, while employment in the goods-producing industries was up 4,800 jobs, or 4.4%. Seven of the nine private industries reported gains compared to employment levels in September 2025.
Within the goods-producing industries, mining and construction was up 4,200 jobs, or 5.3%. Within mining and construction, mining was up 1,400 jobs, or 5.6%, while construction was up 2,800 jobs, or 5.1%. Manufacturing employment was up 600 jobs, or 2.2%, from the previous year. Within manufacturing, durable goods manufacturing was up 400 jobs, or 2.6%, and non-durable goods manufacturing was up 200 jobs, or 1.6%.
Within the private service-providing industries, trade, transportation, and utilities employment was up 3,200 jobs, or 2.2%. Within this industry, retail trade was up 2,200 jobs, or 2.3%; wholesale trade was up 700 jobs, or 3.3%; and transportation, warehousing, and utilities was up 300 jobs, or 1%. Private education and health services reported a gain of 3,000 jobs, or 2%. Within the industry, all gains were in health care and social assistance, which was up 3,700 jobs, or 2.8%. Private educational services was down 700 jobs, or 3.1%. Financial activities was up 500 jobs, or 1.4%. Leisure and hospitality was
up 100 jobs, or 0.1%. Miscellaneous other services was up 700 jobs, or 2.5%t.
Professional and business services was down 2,900 jobs, or 2.4%, while information was down 1,000 jobs, or 10.6%.
Within the public sector, employment in local government was up 4,200 jobs, or 4%. Within local government, local government education was up 2,700 jobs, or 5.1%, and local government excluding education was up 1,500 jobs, or 2.9%. State government employment was up 600 jobs, or 1%. Within state government, both state government education and state government excluding education increased by 300 jobs each, or 1.2% and 0.9%, respectively. Federal government was down 2,000 jobs, or 7% from its employment level in September 2025.
Further analysis will be provided in the Labor Market Review scheduled for release on Oct. 27.
