Optimism reigns in the December job report from the Department of Workforce Services. DWS released the report this morning.
DWS does admit, “December was not a good month for employment in New
Mexico, with the seasonally adjusted series showing a decline
of 4,800 jobs.” Statewide, 25,900 seasonally unadjusted wage jobs went away from December 2008 through December 2009.
Reduced holiday hiring may explain December, DWS speculates. DWS’ hopes hang on September, October, and November being “three consecutive months of seasonally adjusted increases” before the December downer.
DWS “still believe(s) that we are several months into a slow recovery. There are typically a number of setbacks in any recovery, as we take two steps forward and one step back. December appears to one of those steps back.”
We hope.
The state now has five counties with more than 10% unemployment—Catron, Grant, Luna, Mora and Torrance. In December 2008, Luna County stood along in the elite group.
Here are the metros.
At 8.7% in December, Albuquerque’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate beat the state’s 8.3%. Albuquerque dropped 1,000 wage jobs from November to December and 13,900 year over year. Of the 12 employment sectors, only government and the combined education/health services sector grew during 2009. Metro Albuquerque government employment is up 1,400, year over year. The feds added 800 with 300 more each in the state and local sectors. Federal employment will continue to grow, temporarily, with census workers.
Las Cruces lost 1,700 wage jobs during 2009. That net includes gains of 100 each in government and education and health services. The Las Cruces unemployment rate was 8.5% during December.
In Santa Fe, the unemployment rate grew to 7.2% in December. Santa Fe lost 3,500 wage jobs during the year, a 5.4% decline. Even state government employment in the capitol city held at 8,300 year over year. The state did add 100 employees during November.
San Juan County (metro Farmington) lost 3,300 wage jobs during 2009, a 6.2% drop. Local government added 200 jobs during the year. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate hit 10.1% with the seasonally unadjusted rate at 9.4%.
