New Mexico Fast Facts:
Location, Location, Location…: Located in the southwestern region of the U.S., New Mexico was inhabited by Native American populations for many centuries before becoming a state.
Cities: The largest city in New Mexico is Albuquerque and the state capital is Santa Fe.
Behind the Name: New Mexico is officially nicknamed the “Land of Enchantment,” referring to the state’s scenic beauty and rich history.
A Closer Look: Critical weapons research and design culminating in the atomic bomb occurred in Los Alamos as part of the historic “Manhattan Project.”
Did You Know? New Mexico has, at different times, been piece of the Imperial Spanish viceroyalty of New Spain, part of Mexico and a U.S. territory.
New Mexico Careers and Employment:
Population: 1,984,356 (9.1% increase since 2000) – 50.7% Female, 49.3% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 15th in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) retail trade; (2) health care and social assistance; (3) accommodation and food services; (4) construction; and (5) finances and insurance.
Taxes: Income Tax, 1.7% to 5.3%% and Sales Tax, 5% (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 101.4 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 30th of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 34.39; Apr: 51.79; July: 73.21; Oct: 54.31 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12: Ranked 49th of 50 states in “Academic Achievement” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
New Mexico Economics:
In General: Historically dependent upon mining and the cattle trade, New Mexico has since diversified its economy. A majority of the state's workforce is found within the service industry, military and government services, manufacturing, or agriculture services.
Service Industry: The most important services industry group in New Mexico is the community, business and personal services group, including private health care, motels and ski resorts, engineering companies, private research laboratories and repair shops. Government services (federal government research laboratories, military bases, bureau of Indian affairs, public schools, hospitals) are also a critically important facet of New Mexico’s economy.
Agriculture: Dairy and cattle ranching are the most important agricultural activities in New Mexico. Water is scarce in New Mexico, thus creating a need to irrigate most croplands.
Manufacturing: New Mexico’s leading manufactured products are computer and electronic equipment, particularly silicon computer chips that make up over three-fourths of the state’s manufacturing industry profit.
Mining: New Mexico is a national leader in terms of the value of its mined products, with petroleum and natural gas accounting for a great majority of this valuable mining.
Did You Know? Although not necessarily known as a vacation destination, New Mexico has a flourishing tourism, which typically brings billions of dollars into New Mexico’s economy each year.
New Mexico Education:
Find Colleges and Universities in New Mexico, here.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.
