ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – State lawmakers are looking at the recent repercussions from decisions in Washington, D.C. The layoffs happening now are expected to impact thousands of federal workers right here in New Mexico.

New Mexico’s top leaders say they’ve got your back.

“In Washington, D.C., right now, you have a lot of folks who are very interested in saying, ‘you’re fired.’ Here in New Mexico, we prefer to say, ‘you’re hired’,” said Rob Black, the secretary of New Mexico’s Economic Development Department.

New Mexico state leaders estimate there’s up to 32,000 federal workers here. That includes Forest Service employees, National Lab researchers, FAA operators and others. They represent close to 4% of New Mexico’s workforce.

State leaders say there is a job for them on a state level. In fact, a legislative report found nearly 20% of state government positions are vacant.

“If you’re interested in making better outcomes for New Mexico, we have a spot for you here in the state government,” said Dylan Lange, the director of the State Personnel Office.  

“We’re going to be holding some robust recruitment events at America’s Job Centers,” said Sarita Nair, security of the Department of Workforce Solutions. 

There are hiring events scheduled in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, and Carlsbad in the coming weeks:

• Albuquerque and Santa Fe, Feb. 28, from 2-5 p.m.
• Carlsbad and Las Cruces, March 7, from 2-5 p.m.

The State Personnel Office also has a new hotline for any former federal workers looking for a new job. You can find state government job openings online here or at 1-877-664-6984.

“These will have employers ready to hire, including New Mexico state agencies, private sector employers, local governments, all types of different employers,” Nair said.

Above all, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions is encouraging all laid-off federal workers to file an unemployment claim.

“Now we don’t know if it will be granted or not, but that gives us the ability to connect with you. Each claim is decided on its own, fast. And this also gives us the ability to contact you for recruitment and hiring fairs and other activities that we have going on,” Nair said.