Department of Numbers

Las Cruces, New Mexico Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Las Cruces rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 4.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.6 percentage points higher than the New Mexico rate. The unemployment rate in Las Cruces peaked in May 2020 at 8.7% and is now 4.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.9% in September 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.6 percentage points. You can also compare Las Cruces unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
New Mexico 3.9% +0.1 +0.4
Las Cruces 4.5% +0.1 +0.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Las Cruces, New Mexico, National

Las Cruces, New Mexico monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Las Cruces, New Mexico Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Las Cruces peaked in May 2020 at 8,067. There are now 3,530 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,882 in October 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 655. Las Cruces employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Las Cruces, New Mexico) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Las Cruces 4,537 +31 +641

Number of Unemployed Persons

Las Cruces, New Mexico Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
New Mexico
Unemployment Rate
Las Cruces
Unemployment Rate
Las Cruces
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.9% 4.5% 4,537
October
2023
3.8% 3.8% 4.4% 4,506
September
2023
3.8% 3.7% 4.4% 4,486
August
2023
3.8% 3.7% 4.4% 4,481
July
2023
3.5% 3.6% 4.3% 4,375
June
2023
3.6% 3.5% 4.2% 4,236
May
2023
3.7% 3.5% 4.1% 4,101
April
2023
3.4% 3.5% 4.0% 4,033
March
2023
3.5% 3.5% 4.0% 4,034
February
2023
3.6% 3.6% 4.1% 4,063
January
2023
3.4% 3.5% 4.0% 3,962

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.