ONE OF THE STRONGEST SECTORS OF NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY RIGHT NOW IS THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY. UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO ECONOMIST JEFF MITCHELL SAYS JOBS ARE BEING ADDED AS THE STATE ENJOYS THE BENEFITS OF A NATIONWIDE ENERGY BOOM. HE TELLS 770 KKOB THAT, FOUR YEARS AGO, THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR, INCLUDING MINING, EMPLOYED A LITTLE UNDER 18 THOUSAND PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO. HE SAYS WE'RE NOW WELL OVER 25 THOUSAND PEOPLE HIRED.
MITCHELL SAYS THE ADDITIONAL JOBS ARE ISOLATED IN SPECIFIC AREAS…LIKE LEA AND EDDY COUNTIES IN SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO.
