Las Cruces Area Economic Summary
Updated June 28, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Unemployment rates for the Las Cruces area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Las Cruces area, 4th quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,067; Area = $717)
Unemployment rates
4.5
United States
4.1
7.0
Las Cruces
area
6.8
7.0
Dona Ana Co.
6.8
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
May-16
8.0
May-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
Percent
12-month percent changes in employment
Las Cruces area employment
(numbers in thousands)
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
-1.0
Las Cruces area
-2.0
May-14
May-15
United States
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
May-17
Total nonfarm
Mining, logging, and construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
May
2017
73.5
3.8
2.5
10.9
0.7
2.5
6.7
15.4
8.5
1.5
21.0
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
• www.bls.gov/ro6
Change from May
2016 to May 2017
Number
Percent
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.1
0.0
-0.2
-0.3
0.1
0.2
0.0
-0.1
0.0
0.0
8.7
0.9
0.0
-7.4
-4.3
0.7
2.4
0.0
-0.5
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, May 2017
8.0
West region
U.S. city average
6.0
Percent
6.0
6.1
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Engineering services
4.0
5.4
2.0
4.0
2.6
2.0
0.0
12-month percent changes in PPI
0.0
1.9
1.2
All Items
0.9
-2.0
Food
Energy
-4.0
May-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
West Region average annual expenditures 2015
May-15
Healthcare
$4,221
6.9%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$7,098
11.6%
Food
$7,776
12.7%
Transportation
$9,640
15.7%
Total:
$61,244
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Private industry, March 2017
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
Mountain (1)
$29.36
21.22
8.13
1.83
0.95
0.77
2.14
1.04
2.35
(1) Mountain includes AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, and WY.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
Las Cruces
area
Total, all occupations
Housing
$20,716
33.8%
United
States
$33.11
23.06
10.06
2.30
1.18
1.17
2.65
1.34
2.60
May-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$11,793
19.3%
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
United
States
$19.94
$23.86
Electronics engineers, except computer
43.09
49.89
General and operations managers
41.06
58.70
Dental hygienists
39.73
35.31
Accountants and auditors
29.99
36.89
Registered nurses
27.56
34.70
Human resources specialists
23.99
31.20
Construction laborers
13.39
18.22
Office clerks, general
11.94
15.87
Customer service representatives
11.92
16.91
Retail salespersons
11.74
13.07
Personal care aides
9.05
10.92
Cooks, fast food
8.89
9.89
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
4.0
12-month percent changes in ECI
3.0
2.0
1.0
Mountain
0.0
Mar-14
Mar-15
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Southwest Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest • 972-850-4800
United States
Mar-16
Mar-17