Serving the High Plains

Unemployment rises in Quay County

Staff report

Quay County’s unemployment rate for February was 6.7 percent, up two-tenths of a percentage point from January’s rate of 6.5 percent, which was the same as February 2014’s rate, according to information in a news release from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.

Quay County’s workforce was 3,445 in February 2015, 3,439 in January and 3,487 in February 2014, the news release said. There were 230 unemployed in February, 222 unemployed in January and 225 unemployed in February 2014.

Statewide, New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.0 percent in February 2015, up from 5.9 percent in January and down from 6.7 percent a year ago. The national unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, down from January’s rate of 5.7 percent and down from 6.7 percent in February 2014, the news release said.

The rate of over-the-year job growth for nonfarm payroll employment, comparing February 2015 with February 2014, was 2.0 percent, representing a gain of 15,900 jobs. This is New Mexico’s thirtieth consecutive month of over-the-year employment growth and the most substantial growth the state has seen since December 2006, the news release said. This is also the first month since May 2006 that no industry has posted an over-the-year loss in employment. In February 2015, 12 industries added jobs, and one industry remained unchanged from February 2014.

 
 
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