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News Release Information

24-1175-DAL
Friday, June 14, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (972) 850-4800

County Employment and Wages in New Mexico — Fourth Quarter 2023

Employment rose 1.1 percent in Bernalillo, New Mexico’s only large county, from December 2022 to December 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the rate of employment growth in Bernalillo County ranked 204th among the 360 largest counties. (See table 1.)

National employment increased 1.5 percent over the year, with 318 of the 360 largest U.S. counties reporting gains. Hays, TX, had the largest increase in employment (+5.0 percent). Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-6.9 percent).

Employment in Bernalillo County stood at 347,000 in December 2023, accounting for 40.0 percent of total employment in New Mexico. Within Bernalillo County’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment. Nationwide, the 360 largest counties made up 73.0 percent of total U.S. employment.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 32 counties in New Mexico with employment below 75,000. Wage levels in 30 of the 32 smaller counties were below the national average of $1,435 in the fourth quarter of 2023. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

The average weekly wage in Bernalillo County increased 4.5 percent from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023, ranking 75th among the largest U.S. counties. Nationwide, wages increased by 3.6 percent over the year. Among the 360 largest counties in the United States, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Snohomish, WA, had the largest percentage wage increase (+18.6 percent). Merrimack, NH, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-7.2 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

The average weekly wage in Bernalillo County was $1,205 in the fourth quarter of 2023, ranking 234th in the nation. Among the largest U.S. counties, 85 reported average weekly wages at or above the U.S. average in the fourth quarter of 2023. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,699). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 275 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($842).

Average weekly wages in New Mexico’s smaller counties

Among the 32 smaller counties in New Mexico—those with employment below 75,000—Los Alamos County ($2,271) reported an average weekly wage above the national average. Catron County ($710) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 33 counties in New Mexico were considered, 6 reported average weekly wages of less than $850, 12 registered wages from $850 to $949, 7 had wages from $950 to $1,049, and 8 had average weekly wages of $1,050 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in New Mexico, fourth quarter 2023

(U.S. average = $1,385)

Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note or visit www.bls.gov/cew.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update. The Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online is available at www.bls.gov/cew/publications/employment-and-wages-annual-averages/.

The County Employment and Wages release for the first quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

The County Employment and Wages full data update for the first quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.


Technical Note

Average weekly wage data by county are compiled under the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, also known as the ES-202 program. The data are derived from summaries of employment and total pay of workers covered by state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the average of the three monthly employment levels of those covered by UI programs. The result is then divided by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. It is to be noted, therefore, that over-the-year wage changes for geographic areas may reflect shifts in the composition of employment by industry, occupation, and such other factors as hours of work. Thus, wages may vary among counties, metropolitan areas, or states for reasons other than changes in the average wage level. Data for all states, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), counties, and the nation are available on the BLS web site at www.bls.gov/cew. However, data in QCEW press releases have been revised and may not match the data contained on the Bureau’s web site.

QCEW data are not designed as a time series. QCEW data are simply the sums of individual establishment records reflecting the number of establishments that exist in a county or industry at a point in time. Establishments can move in or out of a county or industry for a number of reasons–some reflecting economic events, others reflecting administrative changes.

The preliminary QCEW data presented in this release may differ from data released by the individual states as well as from the data presented on the BLS web site. These potential differences result from the states’ continuing receipt, review and editing of UI data over time. On the other hand, differences between data in this release and the data found on the BLS web site are the result of adjustments made to improve over-the-year comparisons. Specifically, these adjustments account for administrative (noneconomic) changes such as a correction to a previously reported location or industry classification. Adjusting for these administrative changes allows users to more accurately assess changes of an economic nature (such as a firm moving from one county to another or changing its primary economic activity) over a 12-month period. Currently, adjusted data are available only from BLS press releases.

For more information see the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the largest county in New Mexico, fourth quarter 2023
Area Establishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
December 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
December
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Fourth quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
fourth quarter
2022–23 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,090.1 154,848.1 1.5 -- 1,435 -- 3.6 --

New Mexico

68.6 868.3 2.3 -- 1,165 43 4.9 8

Bernalillo

22.8 347.0 1.1 204 1,205 234 4.5 75

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications.
(3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in New Mexico, fourth quarter 2023
Area Establishments Employment December 2023 Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,090,132 154,848,113 1,435

New Mexico

68,646 868,281 1,165

Bernalillo

22,836 347,021 1,205

Catron

132 682 710

Chaves

1,842 21,325 901

Cibola

449 6,868 906

Colfax

555 4,195 892

Curry

1,357 18,117 894

De Baca

84 480 875

Dona Ana

5,759 78,836 955

Eddy

1,959 31,913 1,517

Grant

741 9,497 1,009

Guadalupe

167 1,440 826

Harding

32 165 950

Hidalgo

154 1,342 1,061

Lea

2,175 33,512 1,338

Lincoln

894 6,778 824

Los Alamos

613 22,248 2,271

Luna

556 7,673 958

Mckinley

1,245 20,334 873

Mora

143 665 875

Otero

1,323 17,844 930

Quay

334 2,515 823

Rio Arriba

948 9,620 972

Roosevelt

483 6,054 833

Sandoval

3,210 34,713 1,122

San Juan

3,079 46,313 1,089

San Miguel

806 7,784 860

Santa Fe

6,764 61,849 1,226

Sierra

394 3,538 840

Socorro

391 4,960 952

Taos

1,466 11,545 875

Torrance

371 3,163 964

Union

181 1,225 859

Valencia

1,524 17,471 945

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, fourth quarter 2023
State Establishments,
fourth quarter
(thousands)
Employment Average weekly wage (1)
December 2023
(thousands)
Percent change,
December
2022–23
Fourth quarter
2023 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
fourth quarter
2022–23
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,090.1 154,848.1 1.5 1,435 -- 3.6 --

Alabama

159.1 2,101.1 2.0 1,207 35 4.2 15

Alaska

25.2 311.6 2.4 1,372 16 5.5 2

Arizona

226.4 3,231.4 2.2 1,322 21 3.8 21

Arkansas

103.2 1,294.0 1.4 1,089 50 2.1 49

California

1,792.2 18,111.4 0.2 1,759 4 4.8 9

Colorado

263.2 2,930.1 2.5 1,516 9 3.0 38

Connecticut

151.0 1,690.0 1.3 1,632 6 2.4 46

Delaware

43.2 472.9 1.3 1,373 15 2.2 47

District of Columbia

52.6 759.9 0.7 2,385 1 4.1 16

Florida

904.4 9,870.1 2.5 1,328 20 3.4 32

Georgia

391.7 4,866.4 1.3 1,331 19 3.5 30

Hawaii

58.3 643.3 0.8 1,288 24 5.0 7

Idaho

96.3 854.9 3.5 1,137 46 1.9 50

Illinois

410.6 6,051.9 0.8 1,479 12 3.4 32

Indiana

191.4 3,187.1 0.9 1,171 41 3.6 26

Iowa

110.7 1,564.0 1.0 1,199 36 4.0 18

Kansas

100.1 1,431.8 1.1 1,167 42 3.7 25

Kentucky

154.0 2,004.4 1.8 1,146 45 4.1 16

Louisiana

154.2 1,905.4 0.8 1,193 37 5.3 5

Maine

64.8 636.8 1.4 1,209 34 3.8 21

Maryland

193.8 2,730.4 2.3 1,509 10 3.1 36

Massachusetts

292.9 3,655.4 0.8 1,805 2 0.7 51

Michigan

330.9 4,407.8 1.2 1,316 22 3.3 34

Minnesota

209.2 2,909.9 1.2 1,400 14 3.1 36

Mississippi

89.1 1,170.9 0.7 983 51 3.8 21

Missouri

253.9 2,906.3 1.6 1,222 33 4.3 14

Montana

68.2 510.0 1.8 1,178 40 5.4 3

Nebraska

76.8 1,018.5 2.0 1,187 39 2.9 40

Nevada

108.5 1,556.7 3.6 1,271 28 2.2 47

New Hampshire

67.1 689.2 1.4 1,527 8 2.8 41

New Jersey

333.8 4,293.1 1.3 1,574 7 2.6 44

New Mexico

68.6 868.3 2.3 1,165 43 4.9 8

New York

699.7 9,627.1 1.7 1,783 3 2.8 41

North Carolina

383.8 4,917.9 2.5 1,280 27 3.6 26

North Dakota

36.1 427.0 2.7 1,267 29 5.2 6

Ohio

333.9 5,514.5 1.1 1,245 31 3.6 26

Oklahoma

132.6 1,697.1 1.9 1,123 49 4.7 11

Oregon

206.1 1,985.5 1.0 1,338 18 2.8 41

Pennsylvania

392.4 6,023.4 1.2 1,360 17 3.0 38

Rhode Island

48.3 492.3 1.3 1,302 23 3.3 34

South Carolina

180.8 2,278.0 2.6 1,153 44 3.8 21

South Dakota

40.0 456.0 2.5 1,136 47 3.6 26

Tennessee

225.9 3,276.9 1.6 1,285 25 2.5 45

Texas

835.1 13,905.4 2.3 1,427 13 4.0 18

Utah

139.0 1,713.5 2.1 1,285 25 4.5 13

Vermont

32.6 310.3 1.5 1,250 30 3.5 30

Virginia

316.7 4,089.8 1.7 1,482 11 4.7 11

Washington

243.0 3,590.9 1.6 1,742 5 6.7 1

West Virginia

59.9 693.5 1.2 1,126 48 5.4 3

Wisconsin

208.0 2,936.6 1.0 1,233 32 3.9 20

Wyoming

30.8 277.4 1.5 1,191 38 4.8 9

Puerto Rico

54.4 975.7 0.0 688 (3) 3.3 (3)

Virgin Islands

3.8 36.2 1.6 1,024 (3) 0.7 (3)

(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(3) Data not included in the national ranking.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

 

Last Modified Date: Friday, June 14, 2024