May 2025
Released June 24, 2025
Released April 18, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 24.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 37 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Connecticut.
New Mexico Employment Snapshot
In May, New Mexico added 3,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent. In the prior month, New Mexico added 300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Mexico added 17,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. New Mexico ranks 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, New Mexico’s private sector added 3,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Mexico lost 200 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in New Mexico rose by 616, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,004.
New Mexico’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.8 percent in May and ranks 48th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.
New Mexico Payroll Employment
New Mexico added 3,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Mexico added 300 jobs. New Mexico nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. New Mexico ranks 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Mexico added 3,100 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Mexico lost 200 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 May, or 0.1 percent. New Mexico ranks 4th 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 May were Construction (1,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (1,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Information (-300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (9,100) and Education and Health Services (7,100).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-1,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,800).
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 May.
New Mexico ranks 48th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Mexico was 58.4 percent 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 May.