Jobs news in Lea County has improved but continues to be bleak in the latest state jobs report. The county had 11.8 percent of job seekers unemployed at the end of February. New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.3, according to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (DWS). Nationally, 6.2 percent of would-be workers could not find a job.

Total nonagricultural payroll employment fell across the state by 79,400 jobs, or 9.2 percent, between February 2020 and February 2021. Most losses came from the private sector, which was down 9.5 percent. The public sector was down 16,000 8.4 percent.

March statistics are not expected until the middle of April.

Not all the news was bad. Employment in state government excluding education was up 100 jobs or 0.3 percent. The federal government reported a gain of 200 jobs or 0.7 percent.

Several well-paying truck driving jobs are advertised for in or near Lea. Companies in Lovington, Milnesand, Tatum and Bledsoe, TX, were looking for CDL drivers. Salespeople are also in demand.

Losses were reported in both components of the private sector, according to DWS. The private service-providing industries were down 49,800 jobs, or 8.8 percent, while the goods-producing industries were down 13,600 jobs, representing a decrease of 13.0 percent.

Leisure and hospitality continued to report the heaviest employment losses, with a drop of 26 percent, compared to the previous year. Employment in mining and construction was down 10,900 jobs or 14.3 percent. Mining reported 7,900 fewer jobs or 31.2 percent. Construction employment was down 3,000 jobs, or 5.9 percent, over the year.

Work in education and health services fell by 6,200 jobs or 4.4 percent. Within the education and health services industry, health care and social assistance were down 4.2 percent, while educational services fell 5.5 percent. Professional and business services employment dropped by 4.8 percent. Trade, transportation, and utilities reported a loss of 4,200 jobs (3.1 percent).

Within the public sector, most losses came in local government, which was down 14,100 jobs, or 13.4 percent. Within local government employment, local government excluding education shed 7,900 jobs, representing a loss of 15.5 percent. Local government education was down 6,200 jobs or 11.5 percent. Employment in state government was down 2,100 jobs or 3.7 percent.

All jobs numbers should be considered in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which is still ongoing. While New Mexico is making considerable progress on vaccination, businesses and industries are still struggling from the past year having faced lockdown restrictions and inadequate assistance from the federal government.