Our state is dead last in the percentage of private sector jobs in the workforce – and number one in the percentage of government jobs and government contractor jobs in the workforce. Economists and political leaders agree – this is no way to grow your economy.
Only about two thirds of our jobs in New Mexico are true private sector jobs. That may sound like a lot, but it's a much smaller share than most other states.
Meanwhile, 31.9 percent of New Mexicans work in government or government contract jobs. The national average is 19.2 percent, according to a study from George Mason University. The lowest is Rhode Island at 14.3 percent. In New Mexico, many of those government and contractor jobs are at our two national laboratories or four military bases--where funding cuts are a constant threat.
"We're going to continue to fight for our labs and our military bases," said Gov. Susana Martinez. "But we can't rely on that federal dollar because it's so unreliable right now. We've got to grow the private sector, that doesn't have to get a check from the federal government in order to survive."
Even Democratic leaders agree with the Republican governor. Coming up with a plan is the task of the legislature's new Jobs Council, which says the state needs to grow 16,000 new jobs every year for the next ten years. That's 160,000 jobs. Read more
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