How many jobs were lost in New Mexico last month?
Refreshed monthly
New Mexico lost 800 jobs in September 2026, ranking it 32nd among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 1,300 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-800
month to month change in number of jobs (September 2026)
32nd
rank among states in monthly job growth (September 2026)
New Mexico’s job loss of 800 in September 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 3,200 gain in August 2026.
During the latest five year period (October 2021 to September 2026), New Mexico gained jobs in 42 out of 60 months. September 2026 had the 14th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in July 2022 (+13,300) while job growth was weakest in June 2022 (-6,300).
There were 800 fewer jobs in September 2026 in New Mexico than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, October 2021–September 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which New Mexico sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in September 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in September 2026 were construction, health care and social assistance, and other services. Construction added 1,000 jobs, more than the entire economy. Health care and social assistance gained 400 jobs, while other services added 400 jobs. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were private educational services, local government, and retail trade. private educational services lost 1,100 jobs in September 2026, while local government lost 500 jobs and retail trade lost 500 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 400 jobs during September 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in New Mexico (September 2026)
How has New Mexico's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, New Mexico lost an average of 308 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 533, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-lowest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 2,900 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 2,300 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, New Mexico lost an average of 308 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among four metro areas primarily in New Mexico during September 2026 ranged from a loss of 300 jobs in the Las Cruces, NM area to a gain of 300 jobs in the Santa Fe, NM area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within New Mexico
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +300 | |
| 2. | +200 | |
| 3. | -100 | |
| 4. | -300 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
