Generations of families have ranched and mined in southwest New Mexico. It has been our way of life. The mining boom peaked in 1870 with the discovery of silver ore and today copper is actively mined by Phelps Dodge New Mexico Operations. A workforce numbering over 27,800 is available from the four–county area of Grant, Luna, Catron, and Hidalgo counties.
Pathfinder's study of October 2004 revealed that our workforce characteristics include:
- Four-county civilian labor force composed of 27,800 people
- Our workforce has modern, state of the art technical skills
- 33% of the workforce have technology and telecommunication experience and skills
30% have industrial quality assurance, maintenance, installation and repair experience and skills
Local employers rate our region’s workforce as productive and aiding in its profitability.
More than 6,200 workers in our area are interested in changing jobs because they are underemployed. The majority of these available workers are under the age of 40 with equal numbers of male and female. Of these available workers 45% have college experience or degrees.
Covered employment (jobs reported for unemployment tax) is 65.6% of the total estimated labor force in Grant County. The State of New Mexico has 70% covered employment compared to total labor force. This indicates that Grant County has a higher than average number of workers who are in home-based or "under employed" categories.
Reflecting growth trends in average employment statistics covered employment figures for 1991 through 1997 indicate a 16% growth in all jobs.
Of the Grant County population 16 years and older, 50% are in the labor force. In a 40-mile radius around Silver City there are 8,417 families. Approximately 34% have one member in the labor force, and 39% have two workers in the labor force.
A work force of 35% travels less than 10 minutes to reach their job site, and 49% travel 10-19 minutes to reach their job site. The average travel time to work is 15.23 minutes.
