New Mexico gained 7,800 jobs between May 2012 and May 2013, and the Albuquerque metropolitan statistical area added 4,400 jobs year-over-year, the state Workforce Solutions Department reported Friday.
The unemployment rate was 6.7 percent for New Mexico and 6.6 percent for Albuquerque.
The May-to-May performance marked the second month in a row that Albuquerque saw significant improvement in jobs creation. The area added 2,700 jobs between April 2012 and April 2013. Workforce Solutions said that was the first real improvement in jobs creation in the area in four years.
Employment in the Farmington area was unchanged year-overyear. Las Cruces lost 340 jobs in the period, and Santa Fe lost 440 jobs.
Strongest employment growth in New Mexico was in the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 3,000 jobs. The state's rebounding construction sector added 2,100 jobs, and financial activities and educational and health services added 1,500 jobs each.
Professional and business services, a sector that has consistently lost jobs for several months, gained 200 jobs.
Manufacturing employment statewide declined by 1,100 jobs, government employment was down 800 jobs, wholesale trade was down 500 jobs and retail trade lost 400 jobs.
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