[from ProgressNow New Mexico]:

New Mexico Lost 5,200 Jobs in May; Martinez Missing in Action 

24 Political Appointments, 1 Newsweek profile, 1 California Fundraiser, -5,200 jobs

Employment numbers released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that New Mexico lost 5,200 jobs in May, making New Mexico the only Western state to post job loses for the month.

New Mexico joined just six other states who lost jobs in May, while 44 others and the District of Columbia all posted job gains.  New Mexico posted the second largest over-the-month percentage decline in employment, behind only Alaska. 

ProgressNow NM has been following New Mexico's job losses for months, warning of the dangerous divide that was emerging between  our state and her Western neighbors.  While other Western states have posted steady job growth year-over-year, New Mexico

 has consistently lagged far behind.  

Today's numbers show that the state's economic policies, led by Susana Martinez who campaigned on a promise to make New Mexico more business friendly, have failed.  Earlier this year, a survey of corporate CEO's showed that New Mexico ranked less business friendly under Martinez than her predecessor.

Political watchers know that Martinez was busy in May, but clearly not with the most important issue facing New Mexico. A quick look at the governor's schedule and press releases in May shows that she was focused almost entirely on pursuing her political agenda:

 Read ProgressNow New Mexico's full April Jobs report and see our previous posts about New Mexico's "Worst in the West" job creation.