Counties with the highest unemployment in New Mexico

2024 ended on a high note, with the unemployment rate relatively unchanged at 4.1%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Jan. 10.

Unemployment rates were higher in November than the prior year in 308 of 389 metro areas, though they dropped in 60 areas and remained unchanged in 21 areas, the BLS reported.

The lion's share of job growth remained in government, social assistance, and health care, with openings in nursing, residential care facilities, and home health care leading employment in the latter sector.

To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in New Mexico, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in November 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Key takeaways: Biden's economic legacy, inauguration day, and immigration's impact on jobs

The latest BLS report highlights the final job figures under the Biden administration, giving the outgoing president a win during his final weeks in office. President Biden highlighted the creation of 16.6 million jobs during his term in a Jan. 11 statement.

"Although I inherited the worst economic crisis in decades with unemployment above 6% when I took office, we've had the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years with unemployment at 4.1% as I leave," he said.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump will inherit a strong economy, with forecasts tracking ongoing growth into 2025. However, uncertainty remains. Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods coupled with a sweeping deportation operation may have a significant impact on the economy, accelerating inflation and tamping down job growth, some experts forecast.

"I worry that immigration will be significantly lower than the long-term average of 1.0 million. I worry that tariffs will be universal and lead to a trade war. That would not be good for the economy and earnings," Hugh Johnson, chairman emeritus at Graypoint, told U.S. News.

What does all this mean for middle-class Americans? The unemployment rate is projected to remain stable, only creeping up to 4.3%, according to the Federal Reserve's latest Summary of Economic Projections. Experts suggest paying down mortgages, revisiting investment strategies, and paying attention to taxes before rates possibly shift as Inauguration Day draws close.

The big story: California wildfires still rage

Although Goldman predicts only a "modest drag" on U.S. jobs due to the devastating California wildfires, the situation is still ongoing. Small businesses destroyed by the fires will impact local jobs; in the wake of the fires, a surge in construction and the need for labor and materials might lead to localized shortages and rising costs, impacting several industries.

However, amid political and environmental uncertainty, it's unclear which way the winds will blow. Americans will have to simply wait for the smoke to clear.

To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in New Mexico.

#33. Los Alamos County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.4%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,309 people (297 unemployed)

#32. Eddy County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 35,332 people (1,088 unemployed)

#31. Union County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.5%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,482 people (52 unemployed)

#30. De Baca County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 718 people (26 unemployed)

#29. Curry County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,429 people (804 unemployed)

#28. Roosevelt County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,777 people (337 unemployed)

#27. Grant County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,610 people (485 unemployed)

#26. Rio Arriba County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 17,138 people (675 unemployed)

#25. Lea County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 31,583 people (1,265 unemployed)

#24. Santa Fe County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.0%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 74,045 people (2,965 unemployed)

#23. Bernalillo County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 351,814 people (14,489 unemployed)

#22. Guadalupe County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,729 people (72 unemployed)

#21. Sandoval County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 71,119 people (3,181 unemployed)

#20. Mora County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,065 people (95 unemployed)

#19. Colfax County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,051 people (232 unemployed)

#18. Otero County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 25,989 people (1,183 unemployed)

#17. Chaves County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,941 people (1,249 unemployed)

#16. San Miguel County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,513 people (537 unemployed)

#15. Valencia County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 32,257 people (1,546 unemployed)

#14. San Juan County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 50,315 people (2,422 unemployed)

#13. Harding County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 285 people (14 unemployed)

#12. Hidalgo County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,563 people (77 unemployed)

#11. Dona Ana County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 103,862 people (5,083 unemployed)

#10. Socorro County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,123 people (311 unemployed)

#9. Lincoln County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,721 people (456 unemployed)

#8. Quay County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,844 people (150 unemployed)

#7. Taos County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,275 people (765 unemployed)

#6. McKinley County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,919 people (1,339 unemployed)

#5. Catron County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,170 people (70 unemployed)

#4. Cibola County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,648 people (525 unemployed)

#3. Torrance County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,621 people (348 unemployed)

#2. Sierra County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,897 people (244 unemployed)

#1. Luna County

- November unemployment rate (preliminary): 12.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 2.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 4.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,159 people (1,222 unemployed)

This story features data reporting by Elena Cox, writing by Alizah Salario, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.