A strong and stable workforce awaits you in Santa Fe. From complexity scientists to warehouse staff, from administrators to legislators, Santa Fe’s workers are diverse and flexible.
In 2007, wage and salary jobs in the private sector employed 47,000 in Santa Fe County, while the public sector employed nearly 19,000 people.
Largest Employment Sectors
- Government (State, Federal, Local) 18,700 (28%)
- Accommodation/Food Service 8,300 (13%)
- Retail 8,200 (12%)
- Healthcare/Social Assistance 7,300 (11%)
- Construction 4,800 (7%)
Demographics
Santa Fe’s workforce comes not just from the city and county, but from a radius about 60 miles around the city. Commuters within a one-hour drive from the City of Santa Fe live in four counties – Santa Fe County, Rio Arriba County, Los Alamos County, Sandoval and San Miguel County. This ensures a deep, varied and flexible workforce, suited to all kinds of businesses.
Below is a table of the population in the Santa Fe Region and a breakdown by gender and age:
Population by Age – Santa Fe Region
(includes Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and San Miguel counties)
| Total Population |
344,796 |
| Male |
169,418 |
| Female |
175,372 |
| 15 - 19 yrs |
24,861 |
| 20 - 24 yrs |
25,188 |
| 25 - 34 yrs |
43,669 |
| 35 - 44 yrs |
48,723 |
| 45 - 54 yrs |
53,429 |
| Median age, years |
36 |
Training
Santa Fe has all the resources a business needs for training employees from valuable incentives for job training to a world class community college.
New Mexico Green Jobs Portal
New Mexico is focused on developing extraordinary employment opportunities which will not only benefit the economy but also be good for the environment. In this mind set, research funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant is being used to identify resources and employment opportunities for New Mexico residents. Search for green jobs opportunities or training and certification programs HERE
Job Training Incentive Program
For qualifying companies, a large portion of training costs can be covered through the state Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP). One of the strongest workforce training programs in the nation, this highly flexible incentive reimburses economic-based companies (those selling a majority of goods or services out of state) for half of wages paid for up to six months. It also pays 100% of classroom training costs and on-the-job training provided by New Mexico institutions and part of the per diem and travel costs of outside trainers. Job applicants must be New Mexico residents or have lived here for at least a year during their lifetimes.
The Northern New Mexico Workforce Development Board
The Board promotes business and community partnerships for local economic development while providing vocational and employment services to the local workforce.
EDUCATION
Santa Fe has a well-educated workforce, 41% of adult residents have a college degree or higher. There are three primary colleges in Santa Fe, each with its own strength
The Santa Fe Community College
The Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) provides the region with affordable high quality education and training. Dr. Ana "Cha" Guzman, President and Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) are eager to work with companies to develop any specialized workforce training and education programs they require. SFCC is home to the statewide New Mexico Small Business Development Centers network.
Presented through a variety of delivery methods and time formats, this includes basic skill programs; certificates and technical degrees; associate degrees with four year transfer potential, and personal enrichment courses both for credit and not for credit. These offerings are designed to add value to the lives of our community members by broadening opportunities; enhancing personal income; improving working and living conditions; and fostering richer, healthier lives.
Each semester SFCC has around 5,400 students enrolled in the various associate degree programs or certificate or professional credential programs.
This includes an Environmental Technology Program which includes both an associate’s degree and a certificate program. The curriculum is both theoretical and practical.
Students get project-based learning and assessment in simulated work environments. The program helps develop critical thinking and problem solving skills by emphasizing teamwork on group projects. Students get a strong foundation that allows them to adapt to a wide range of employment opportunities in this diverse emerging industry.
SFCC is also home to the Center for Community Sustainability, which delivers education in sustainability, renewable energies technologies, environmental technologies, and certifications for energy raters. The college is developing curriculum to add sustainability across all our educational programs including science, math, English, and history. The college is also developing the Sustainable Technologies Center, which is part of the national Advanced Technology Center network to develop and deliver curriculum in smart grid technology and green building construction.
St. John’s College
St. John’s College is a co-educational, four year liberal arts college known for its distinctive “great books” curriculum.
St. John’s is a single college located on two campuses, one in Annapolis, Maryland, and another here in Santa Fe.. The campuses share an identical curriculum (changes must be approved by both halves of the faculty) and a single governing board. Each campus is limited to well under 500 students, and the faculty-student ratio is 1 to 8.
The all-required course of study is based on the reading, study, and discussion of the most important books of the Western tradition. There are no majors and no departments; all students follow the same program.
Students study from the classics of literature, philosophy, theology, psychology, political science, economics, history, mathematics, laboratory sciences, and music. No textbooks are used. The books are read in roughly chronological order, beginning with ancient Greece and continuing to modern times.
All classes are discussion-based. There are no class lectures; instead, the students meet together with faculty members (called tutors) to explore the books being read.
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
New Mexico Tech is the State’s equivalent of Cal Tech in California. Located just two hours south of Santa Fe, it provides an affordable world-class education for students interested in science and technology. It is an undergraduate and graduate university specializing in science and engineering education and research. Click here to learn more.
Levels of Education – Santa Fe and Santa Fe County
Educational Attainment
Population 25 years and over (218,108) |
|
| Less than 9th grade |
5% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma |
8% |
| High School graduate (includes equivalency) |
29% |
| Some college, no degree |
22% |
| Associate Degree |
8% |
| Bachelor's degree |
18% |
| Graduate or professional degree |
12.5% |
| Percent high school graduate or higher |
86% |
| Percent bachelor's degree or higher |
33% |
Non-Agricultural Wage and Salary Employment by major sector
New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Areas (000s) 1996 - 2006
| |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
%Change |
| Santa Fe MSA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1996 - 2006) |
| Total Employment |
54.4 |
55.1 |
55.7 |
56.8 |
57.5 |
58.1 |
58.5 |
59.6 |
60.5 |
62.2 |
62.8 |
15% |
| Total Private |
39.6 |
40.0 |
40.7 |
41.6 |
41.9 |
42.6 |
42.9 |
44.3 |
45.1 |
45.9 |
46.4 |
11% |
| Goods Producing |
5.4 |
5.3 |
5.4 |
5.8 |
5.9 |
5.9 |
5.6 |
5.7 |
5.7 |
5.7 |
6.0 |
11% |
Services
Providing |
34.2 |
34.8 |
35.4 |
35.8 |
36.0 |
36.7 |
37.3 |
38.5 |
39.4 |
40.1 |
40.4 |
18% |
Natural
Resources,
Mining,
Construction |
3.6 |
3.6 |
3.8 |
4.3 |
4.5 |
4.6 |
4.4 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
4.6 |
4.9 |
36% |
| Manufacturing |
1.8 |
1.7 |
1.6 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
-39% |
Wholesale
Trade |
0.9 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
22% |
| Retail Trade |
8.2 |
8.2 |
8.1 |
8.3 |
8.5 |
8.3 |
8.4 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
8.6 |
8.8 |
7% |
Transp.,
Warehousing
& Utilities |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0% |
| Information |
1.1 |
1.1 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
0% |
Financial
Activities |
2.6 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
3.1 |
19% |
| Professional & Business |
3.6 |
3.7 |
4.0 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
4.8 |
5.1 |
5.3 |
5.1 |
41% |
Educational
& Health |
6.5 |
6.7 |
6.7 |
6.7 |
6.7 |
7.2 |
7.5 |
8.1 |
8.3 |
8.5 |
8.4 |
29% |
Leisure &
Hospitality |
8.4 |
8.6 |
8.6 |
8.6 |
8.6 |
8.7 |
8.8 |
8.8 |
8.9 |
9.0 |
9.1 |
8% |
| Other Services |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
30% |
| Government |
14.8 |
15.0 |
15.0 |
15.2 |
15.6 |
15.5 |
15.6 |
15.3 |
15.5 |
16.3 |
16.4 |
11% |
Average Annual Covered Wages by Major Industrial Sector and County
NAICS Classification System
| Santa Fe County |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
% Change |
| Grand Total |
$29,623 |
$31,230 |
$31,036 |
$32,535 |
$33,299 |
|
| Total Private |
28,359 |
29,984 |
29,647 |
31,205 |
32,242 |
13.69% |
| Agriculture for fishing and hunting |
22,798 |
23,224 |
25,074 |
25,133 |
25,201 |
10.54% |
| Mining |
44,381 |
49,276 |
48,487 |
48,176 |
58,498 |
31.80% |
| Utilities |
* |
49,150 |
50,688 |
* |
* |
|
| Construction |
28,319 |
28,943 |
29,230 |
30,949 |
31,810 |
12.32% |
| Manufacturing |
27,260 |
28,153 |
31,532 |
32,330 |
31,574 |
15.82% |
| Wholesale Trade |
37,661 |
35,732 |
37,289 |
39,333 |
39,410 |
4.64% |
| Retail Trade |
24,550 |
24,730 |
24,950 |
27,353 |
27,154 |
10.60% |
| Transportation & Warehousing |
27,651 |
28,191 |
27,979 |
29,142 |
30,867 |
11.63% |
| Information |
39,956 |
39,220 |
39,036 |
44,424 |
44,389 |
11.09% |
| Finance & Insurance |
49,586 |
49,395 |
52,487 |
54,732 |
62,876 |
26.80% |
| Real Estate and Rental & Leasing |
34,887 |
84,844 |
34,622 |
34,362 |
32,079 |
-8.04% |
| Professional & Technical Services |
53,294 |
52,685 |
55,607 |
55,858 |
58,887 |
10.49% |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises |
31,441 |
32,673 |
38,358 |
42,903 |
43,720 |
39.05% |
| Administrative and Waste Services |
23,095 |
22,440 |
24,502 |
26,525 |
26,110 |
13.05% |
| Educational Services |
26,266 |
27,368 |
26,346 |
27,072 |
28,650 |
9.07% |
| Health Care and Social Assistance |
33,681 |
34,843 |
36,373 |
37,463 |
38,858 |
15.37% |
| Arts, Entertainment and Recreation |
24,910 |
24,981 |
25,414 |
28,172 |
27,681 |
11.12% |
| Accommodation and Food Services |
15,476 |
16,078 |
16,326 |
17,038 |
17,733 |
14.58% |
| Other Services, ex. Public Administration |
24,303 |
24,758 |
25,033 |
25,532 |
26,987 |
11.04% |
| Non-Classifiables 2/ |
30,292 |
23,124 |
26,952 |
* |
47,917 |
58.18% |
| Total Government |
32,764 |
34,332 |
34,472 |
35,875 |
35,879 |
9.50% |
| Federal |
46,526 |
47,994 |
49,257 |
53,069 |
54,665 |
17.49% |
| State |
33,817 |
35,505 |
35,331 |
37,300 |
38,245 |
13.09% |
| Local |
27,916 |
29,542 |
30,178 |
30,437 |
29,460 |
5.53% |
* Withheld to avoid disclosing confidential data. Data that are not disclosed for individual industries are always included in the totals. Therefore, the individual industries may not sum to the totals.
2/ Data by industry from 2001 forward are not generally comparable with industry data for prior years. Prior to 2001 industry categories are based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. This system was replaced with the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
Hire Workers
The Department of Workforce Solutions should be your first stop to hire employees. Additional options include temporary staffing agencies such as:
Find a Job
Santa Fe offers many diverse and rewarding employment opportunities. And it helps to know where to look. Networking is always a good idea, find businesses in the area you want to work and ask if they know of any job opportunities, call the Chamber of Commerce or you can look at some of the regularly updated postings.
Jobs are regularly advertised in the following publications:
STAY UP TO DATE