Contact: Erika Martinez
(505)986-4819
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2013
Legislative Jobs Council Learns 16,000 Jobs a Year Must Be Created to Boost Economy
Santa Fe, NM —At today’s Job Council meeting, legislators learned that a projected 160,000 jobs must be created within the next 10 years to return New Mexico to its previous economic state before the 2007 national recession.
Facilitators from Lautman Economic Architecture and Karpoff and Associates presented the council with a suggested list of legislative action. Proposals include:
- Aligning agendas between local and state governments by developing a Workforce Gap Forecast model. This particular model utilizes analytical data on workforce demand and supply, to project how legislation affects economic base jobs.
- Continuation of funding for proven programs like the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) and the state’s tourism department to expand services.
- Funding new innovative programs for economic base job creation through task force development.
- Investing in such factors as infrastructure, post performance initiatives and bandwidth to compete with other economies and to address production gaps.
All proposed legislation was endorsed, with an amendment made to change the 10 year projection date from 2023 to 2024. Lawmakers said they will do everything in their power to assure public partnerships are made to reach the goals that were laid out before them in the meeting.
Senate President Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen (D-38-Dona Ana) serves as the committee co-chair. Senate Democrat members include Sen. Majority Floor Leader Michael Sanchez (D-29-Bernalillo & Valencia), Sen. Majority Whip Tim Keller (D-17-Bernalillo), Sen. Phil Griego (D-39- Bernalillo, Lincoln, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Torrance & Valencia), Sen. George Munoz (D-4- Cibola, McKinley & San Juan) and Sen. Michael Padilla (D-14-Bernalillo).
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