IN JUST A FEW DAYS THERE WILL BE MASSIVE LAYOFFS AT SANDIA AND LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABS…UNLESS AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED IN WASHINGTON TO END THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY ECONOMICS PROFESSOR CHRIS ERICKSON SAYS IT'S ESTIMATED AROUND 13-THOUSAND LAB EMPLOYEES WOULD BE AFFECTED. HE SAYS TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IS ABOUT 800 THOUSAND … SO 13 THOUSAND IS ABOUT ONE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT … ENOUGH TO THROUGH THE STATE INTO A RECESSION.
ERICKSON SAYS THE IMPACT WOULD BE ESPECIALLY HARSH IN A COMPANY TOWN LIKE LOS ALAMOS. TWO WEEKS INTO THE SHUTDOWN, ERICKSON SAYS BUSINESSES IN THE STATE ARE ALREADY REPORTING A SLOWDOWN IN SALES.
