The New Mexico economy added 18,333 (net) non-farm jobs between the third quarter of 2004 and the third quarter of 2005.

Just one sector (transportation, warehousing, and utilities) exhibited a net job loss, and that was only 200 jobs, so the rest of the economy added 18,533 jobs.

Almost half of the net new jobs came in two sectors, construction and government. Construction employment added 3,733 jobs, a 7.2% gain.

In addition to housing, construction activities included a large number of highway projects, a racetrack/casino in Hobbs, a cheese plant in Clovis, the Microsystems Engineering and Sciences Applications complex and the Center for Integrative nanotechnologies in Albuquerque, and several large hotels.

In 2005, there were 304,838 people over the age of 16 in the labor force in Albuquerque. Of these 93.81% were employed, 4.78% were unemployed, and 0.91% were in the armed forces. In 1990, unemployment in Albuquerque was 4.36% and in 2000 it was 3.76%.

Growth Map New Jobs on the west side New Call Center Aviation Technology New Homes being built Improving roadways Population increase