Feb 11, 2015

There are two major elements to look at when examining a state’s state and local Government workforce—the number of employees and the level of their pay. In this analysis, each element is measured relative to the national average and summed together to obtain an overall measure of workforce productivity. Based on this state and local government workforce productivity index, New Mexico has the eighth least productive state and local government workforce in the country.

Click here to view our full government workforce data app with details by state, by County, level of government, and over time.

In 2016, #NewMexico had the 8th least productive state and local #government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #NMpol #NMleg #NMgov (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, New Mexico employed 25.1 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is 60 percent above the national average of 15.7 and is 2nd highest ratio in the country.

In 2016, #NewMexico state & local #government employed 25.1 for every 100 employed in private sector—the 2nd highest ratio in the country and 60 percent above the US average http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #NMpol #NMleg #NMgov (click to tweet)

Additionally, New Mexico’s employment ratio has not changed. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio stayed nearly constant at 25.1 in 2016 from 25.2 in 1969. At the same time, the national average increased by 2 percent to 15.7 in 2016 from 15.4 in 1969.

As shown in Chart 3, for state and local government compensation in 2016, New Mexico government employees earn 16 percent more than those in the private sector (compensation ratio) which is 21 percent higher than the national average of 14 percent and is the 16th highest compensation ratio in the country.

In 2016, #NewMexico state & local #government compensation was 16% higher than in the private sector—the 16th highest ratio in the country and 21 percent above US average http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #NMpol #NMleg #NMgov (click to tweet)

Additionally, New Mexico’s compensation ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio increased by 16 percentage points to 16 percent in 2016 from 0 percent in 1969. This is a slightly faster growth rate than the national average which increased by 15 percentage points to 14 percent in 2016 from -1 percent in 1969.

As shown in Chart 5, it is state and local wages and salaries that are primarily responsible for New Mexico’s high government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, New Mexico employees earn 1 percent more than those in the private sector which is the 11th highest wages and salaries ratio in the country and higher than the national average of -8 percent.

For state and local benefits in 2016, New Mexico employees earn 90 percent more than those in the private sector which is -29 percent lower than the national average of 127 percent and is the 15th lowest benefit ratio in the country.

Click here to view our full government workforce data app with details by state, by county, level of government, and over time.

Of course, efficiency for local government helps to be measured on a more local scale. As such, we have also calculated the employment and compensations ratios of local government workers for every county in New Mexico.

The New Mexico counties with the highest local government employment ratios include:

• Harding County, NM (130.2)
• Rio Arriba County, NM (65.1)
• Mora County, NM (46.5)
• De Baca County, NM (45.7)
• Catron County, NM (43.1)
• Torrance County, NM (36.6)
• Hidalgo County, NM (33.8)
• Socorro County, NM (31.9)
• Valencia County, NM (31.2)
• Otero County, NM (30.6)

The New Mexico counties with the lowest local government employment ratios include:

• Taos County, NM (16.2)
• Lincoln County, NM (15.7)
• Curry County, NM (15.5)
• Dona Ana County, NM (15.3)
• Chaves County, NM (14.5)
• Santa Fe County, NM (14.4)
• Lea County, NM (13.7)
• Eddy County, NM (11.3)
• Bernalillo County, NM (10.6)
• Los Alamos County, NM (10.3)

The New Mexico counties with the highest local government compensation ratios include:

• Roosevelt County, NM (66 percent)
• Catron County, NM (65 percent)
• Lincoln County, NM (62 percent)
• San Miguel County, NM (58 percent)
• McKinley County, NM (56 percent)
• Sierra County, NM (52 percent)
• Chaves County, NM (46 percent)
• Colfax County, NM (44 percent)
• Dona Ana County, NM (42 percent)
• Hidalgo County, NM (36 percent)

The New Mexico counties with the lowest local government compensation ratios include:

• Otero County, NM (14 percent)
• Torrance County, NM (12 percent)
• Rio Arriba County, NM (9 percent)
• Lea County, NM (7 percent)
• Bernalillo County, NM (7 percent)
• Eddy County, NM (3 percent)
• Sandoval County, NM (-2 percent)
• San Juan County, NM (-2 percent)
• Harding County, NM (-21 percent)
• Los Alamos County, NM (-68 percent)

Overall, it is New Mexico’s high employment ratio and compensation ratio, driven by wages and salaries, that is the primary reason for New Mexico having the 8th worst state and local government workforce productivity index.

Read more about the "government workforce productivity Index" methodology here.

Click here to view our full government workforce data app with details by state, by county, level of government, and over time.

Finally, don’t forget to watch our exclusive time-lapse video of our state and local government workforce productivity index over the last 47 years! See if your state has been above or below the national average?