Associated Press
New Mexico's unemployment rate in July climbed to 3.7 percent, up from the previous month's historic low of 3.2 percent.
While unemployment was on the rise last month, state labor officials said Thursday that New Mexico's rate remains well below the national rate of 4.6 percent.
The state Department of Workforce Solutions — which was created by combining the Labor Department and the Office of Workforce Training and Development — said New Mexico added 14,900 jobs over the last year, ranking it 18th highest for job growth among the states.
The state's fastest growing industry in July was the information industry, which added 2,100 jobs since last year. Labor officials said those new jobs involved filmmaking.
Natural resources and mining was second with 1,000 new jobs. The agency said sustained higher energy prices have pushed employment in this sector up 44 percent over the past five years and continued growth is expected.
As for the construction industry, slowing conditions nationwide have finally caught up with New Mexico, labor officials said. The industry is still ahead of last year but has added only 100 new jobs over the past 12 months.
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