NM unemployment rate rises to 8.5%

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5 percent in January 2010, up from 8.2 percent in December and 5.9 percent a year ago. The national unemployment was 9.7 percent.

Read the full January's Monthly Employment Report .

The rate of over-the-year job growth, comparing January 2010 with January 2009, was negative 3.3 percent, representing a loss of 26,700 jobs. New Mexico’s ranking among the states is not yet known, but performance at this time is below the national average, which was negative 3.0 percent. Unlike previous national recessions, this downturn has impacted New Mexico nearly as much as it has the nation as a whole.

Only three of the state’s 13 industries posted any job growth since last year, while ten others reported employment declines.

The largest gains were in leisure & hospitality, which added 1,900 jobs.  The educational & health services industry also added jobs, just not that many. Rounding out the gaining industries was information, which registered an increase of 100 jobs.