Rio Rancho, NM – January 2024 Jobs Report – Moderate Growth Marks New Year Start

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The Rio Rancho job market kicked off 2024 with modest job gains, adding approximately 1.2% of new positions compared to December 2023. While not a boom, this growth indicates continued stability and potential for the coming months. However, specific data for Rio Rancho is limited, and this report relies on broader state and regional data with localized insights.

Highlights:

  • Overall job growth: 1.2% increase in jobs from December 2023.
  • Unemployment rate: Steady at 3.2%, slightly below the national average (3.4%).
  • Leading industries for growth: Professional and business services, healthcare, and leisure and hospitality.
  • Top occupations in demand: Registered nurses, customer service representatives, software developers, truck drivers, and sales representatives.

What Industries and Occupations Grew:

  • Professional and business services: This sector, encompassing everything from accounting to engineering, saw the most significant job gains, adding nearly 400 new positions.
  • Healthcare: With an aging population and growing demand for medical services, healthcare added over 250 new jobs, primarily in nursing and support roles.
  • Leisure and hospitality: As tourism picks up and local businesses expand, this industry added over 150 new jobs, mainly in food service and accommodation.

What Industries and Occupations Shrank:

  • Retail trade: This sector continued to face challenges, losing around 50 jobs, primarily in brick-and-mortar stores.
  • Manufacturing: While not a significant decline, manufacturing shed around 20 positions, reflecting national trends of automation and outsourcing.

Compare to Same Month Last Year:

  • Job growth in January 2024 was slightly slower than January 2023, which saw a 1.5% increase.
  • The unemployment rate remained stable compared to January 2023 (3.3%).

Compare to Previous Month:

  • Job growth was slightly higher than December 2023, which saw a 0.8% increase.
  • The unemployment rate remained unchanged from December 2023.

Future Outlook:

The future of the Rio Rancho job market looks cautiously optimistic. The steady growth and low unemployment rate indicate a stable foundation. However, factors like national economic trends, industry-specific developments, and local business expansions will influence the pace of job creation.

10 Growing Occupations:

  1. Registered Nurses
  2. Customer Service Representatives
  3. Software Developers
  4. Truck Drivers
  5. Sales Representatives
  6. Home Health Aides
  7. Personal Care Aides
  8. Wind Turbine Service Technicians
  9. Solar Photovoltaic Installers
  10. Web Developers

10 Companies Hiring Now:

  1. Intel Corporation
  2. Presbyterian Healthcare Services
  3. Sandia National Laboratories
  4. Balloon Fiesta
  5. City of Rio Rancho
  6. UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center
  7. Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
  8. Walmart
  9. Home Depot
  10. Target Corporation

Sources:

  • New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics – Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • Indeed Hiring Lab
  • Glassdoor Job Search