NEW MEXICO CONTINUES TO BUCK A NATIONAL TREND…AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY. IT'S LOSING JOBS WHILE OTHER STATES ARE GAINING. PAUL GESSING, THE PRESIDENT OF THE RIO GRANDE FOUNDATION, SAYS NEW MEXICO'S 54-PERCENT WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE IS THE LOWEST IN THE SOUTHWEST.
THOSE BRIGHT SPOTS ARE THE SOUTHEAST WHERE THERE'S OIL PRODUCTION , AND THE SANTA TERESA BORDER REGION. GESSING SAYS NEW MEXICO CONSISTENTLY GAINED WORKERS GOING BACK TO THE 1970'S…BUT THAT ALL CHANGED DURING THE GREAT RECESSION.
