Talent is an essential component for any successful business, and in New Mexico talent of all types is plentiful. New Mexico not only has large talent pools in key sectors like manufacturing and logistics, but we also have higher than average concentrations of experienced talent in specialized fields like engineering and the sciences. New Mexico has a workforce with the skills for today and a growing talent pool with the expertise for tomorrow.
There are almost 200,000 people employed in key manufacturing, natural resources, and logistic sectors throughout New Mexico.
There are over 133,000 students enrolled in public higher education institutions throughout New Mexico. Almost 40,000 of these are enrolled at our top tier research universites.
New Mexico has a centuries-old legacy of diversity and continues that legacy by being 1 of only 5 other majority-minority states.
New Mexico is continuing its long history of diversity by joining California, Nevada, Texas, and Hawaii as one of only five majority-minority states. Projections estimate the rest of the U.S. will become majority-minority by 2045.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018 estimates
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018 estimates
New Mexico has sizeable talent pools among key economic base sectors. There are nearly 300,000 employed in general business sectors like sales, finance, operations, back office, and executive talent. Likewise, there are almost 200,000 employed in manufacturing, natural resources, and logistic sectors.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018 estimates
Education is also a priority in New Mexico. The state is home to three major research universities, four comprehensive four-year institutions, seven independent community colleges, three cooperative education sites and many specialized learning facilities, totaling 50 locations statewide. There are over 133,000 students enrolled in public higher education institutions throughout the state; almost 7% of the state’s population. Additionally, almost 40,000 of these students are enrolled at the state’s top tier research universities.
The University of New Mexico is a comprehensive, Carnegie-designated Research 1 University and is the nation’s only flagship state university that is also a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). UNM is a place where cutting-edge research and creative endeavors flourish. Among the university’s outstanding research units are the Center for Advanced Research Computing, Cancer Center, New Mexico Engineering Research Institute, Center for High Technology Materials, Design Planning Assistance Center, and the Mind Research Network. UNM’s Health Science Center conducts innovative medical research that reaches every corner of the globe. It has particularly strong programs in both Business and Engineering.
New Mexico Tech serves the state and beyond through education, research, and service, focused in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. NMT has more than a dozen research divisions that work with private industry, government agencies, and other universities to contribute ground-breaking research to the scientific canon and the world of industry, science, and engineering.
New Mexico State University sits on a 900-acre campus and enrolls more than 15,000 students from 49 states and 89 foreign countries. NMSU serves a multi-cultural population of students and community members across the state at five campuses, a satellite learning center in Albuquerque, cooperative extension offices located in each of New Mexico’s 33 counties, and 12 agriculture research and science centers. NMSU has developed an international track record in research and development in several disciplines, including animal and range science, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, computer science, energy, medical and health sciences, space and aerospace, water and other environmental issues.
New Mexico has high concentrations of talent among in-demand fields such as engineering and the sciences. The state’s long history as a world-class research center has fostered a culture of innovation that continues today, drawing highly skilled talent to the state.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018 estimates
| Public Higher Educational Institutions in New Mexico | Total Enrollment | Full-Time Enrollment | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergrad | Graduate | Total | |||
| Research Universities | University of New Mexico | 26,998 | 18,576 | 4,440 | 23,016 |
| New Mexico State University | 14,827 | 10,540 | 1,761 | 12,301 | |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining & Tech | 2,162 | 1,507 | 302 | 1,809 | |
| UNM-Medical School | 418 | - | 418 | 418 | |
| Total | 44,405 | 30623 | 6,921 | 37,544 | |
| Comprehensive Universities | Eastern New Mexico University | 6,230 | 3,369 | 380 | 4,049 |
| New Mexico Highlands university | 3,512 | 1,774 | 871 | 2,645 | |
| Western New Mexico University | 3,420 | 1,614 | 533 | 2,147 | |
| Northern New Mexico College | 1,126 | 783 | - | 783 | |
| Total | 14,288 | 7450 | 2,084 | 9,624 | |
| Branch Community Colleges | NMSU-Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Dona Ana, Grants | 12,937 | 7,123 | - | 7,123 |
| UNM-Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos, Valencia | 7,726 | 4,062 | - | 4,062 | |
| ENMU-Roswell, Ruidoso | 3,553 | 1,929 | - | 1,929 | |
| Total | 24,216 | 13,084 | - | 13,084 | |
| Independent Community Colleges | Central New Mexico Community College | 24,832 | 12,913 | - | 12,913 |
| San Juan College | 7,768 | 4,392 | - | 4,392 | |
| Santa Fe Community College | 6,101 | 2,546 | - | 2,546 | |
| Clovis Community College | 3,691 | 1,556 | - | 1,556 | |
| New Mexico Junior College | 2,678 | 1,704 | - | 1,704 | |
| Luna Community College | 1,404 | 689 | - | 689 | |
| Mesalands Community College | 869 | 414 | - | 414 | |
| New Mexico Military Institute | 528 | 502 | - | 502 | |
| Total | 47,871 | 24,716 | - | 24,716 | |
| Tribal Colleges | Navajo Technical University | 1,675 | 1,061 | 2 | 1,063 |
| Institution of American Indian Arts | 594 | 315 | 59 | 374 | |
| Dine College | 414 | 168 | - | 168 | |
| Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute | 367 | 310 | - | 310 | |
| Total | 3,050 | 1,854 | 61 | 1,915 | |
| Grand Total | 133,830 | 77,817 | 9,066 | 86,833 |
In addition to the talent pipeline coming from the state’s universities, New Mexico also has a wealth of workforce training programs throughout the state. In 2017 Business Facilities Rankings Report listed New Mexico as 9th in the nation for Workforce Training Leaders.
