By KRWG News
New Mexico – New Mexico's jobless rate dropped to 7.6 percent in April, down more than a half-percent from the same time last year.
State labor officials say New Mexico has recorded two large monthly declines in the unemployment rate since peaking at 8.7 percent earlier this year.
The Department of Workforce Solutions says the state's rate of over-the-year job growth stands at 0.3 percent, representing a loss of 2,600 jobs. The state's job growth rate has remained flat for about a year and continuously below the zero line for more than two years.
Despite the lower unemployment rate, state officials say there are still lingering signs of recession-caused job losses.
The leisure and hospitality industry is among the sectors that have grown. It added 4,000 jobs over the past year.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.