By KRWG News
Las Cruces – The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the Las Cruces MSA was 8.4 percent in October 2010, up from September's revised rate of 8.2 percent, mirroring the statewide jobless numbers. A year ago, the Las Cruces area's unemployment rate was 7.8 percent.
Over the month, the continuing return of students to institutions of learning added 700 government jobs to the Las Cruces economy. Employment was unchanged overall in the private sector, with gains in professional & business services offsetting losses in construction.
Over the year, the Las Cruces MSA added 2,000 jobs for growth of 2.9 percent. The area has now recorded positive job growth for six consecutive months, following 16 months of year-over-year losses. Six of the 12 industries expanded employment, two were unchanged, and four lost jobs over the year.
Professional & business services added 1,200 jobs to lead all industries. The other private-sector gainers were educational & health services, up 400; leisure & hospitality, up 200; and information and retail trade, each up 100. All three government-sector components added jobs, with state government up 200 and the federal and local levels each up 100.
Four other industries financial activities, miscellaneous other services, manufacturing, and construction were each down 100 jobs from their year-ago levels. Employment was unchanged from October 2009 in wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing & utilities.