NM continues to bleed jobs

KRQE TV

Updated: Feb 4, 2013 6:47 PM

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) — New Mexico is the only state in the southwest region to have negative job growth from December of 2011 to December of 2012.
    
The state lost 3,200 jobs during that time.
    
Utah is showing the highest job growth in the region at 2.9 percent.
    
New Mexico is almost a half-percent in the negative.
    
Governor Susana Martinez pinned the bad numbers on a lack of diversity when it comes to the state's economy and too much dependence on federally funded jobs.
    
Martinez says she and state lawmakers have to work together to make it easier for businesses to stay open and for new businesses to move to New Mexico.

“Right now it is challenging,” Martinez said. “We have a high tax rate in our business tax.  We also need to make sure Texas and Colorado and Arizona for example which just reduced their business tax to 4.9 that we're competitive with them."
       
Democrats rolled out their job creation package at the legislature last week.
    
Part of it proposes $97-million in capital spending for "shovel-ready" public works projects.
    
The package also includes bills to support the film, technology, energy, and agriculture industries.
 

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