March 2025 | Released April 18, 2025
Download the full PDF for New Mexico
Download the summary PDF for New Mexico
United States Employment Snapshot
In March, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In March, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 12. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Connecticut.
New Mexico Employment Snapshot
In March, New Mexico added 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, New Mexico added 400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Mexico added 11,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. New Mexico is tied for 9th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In March, New Mexico’s private sector added 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Mexico added 600 net private payroll jobs.
In March, employment in New Mexico rose by 565, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,234.
New Mexico’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.8 percent in March and is tied for 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.
New Mexico Payroll Employment
New Mexico added 1,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, New Mexico added 400 jobs. New Mexico nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. New Mexico is tied for 9th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Mexico added 900 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, New Mexico added 600 jobs. New Mexico private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. New Mexico is tied for 5th 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 March were Education and Health Services (900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (300).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-100) and Professional and Business Services (-300).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (6,400) and Education and Health Services (5,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-1,200) and Information (-2,000).
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 March.
New Mexico is tied for 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 62.5 percent in March.