New Mexico's unemployment rate rose to 7 percent in March, up from 6.7 percent in February but down from 6.9 percent in March 2013.
The state Workforce Solutions Department said Friday that the state's economy added 3,700 nonfarm jobs since February but lost 1,000 jobs over the year.
Over the year, the sector with the largest job gain was retail trade, which added 2,100 jobs since March 2013 for the sector's largest gain in six years. Meanwhile, financial activities added 1,900 jobs and leisure and hospitality had 1,500 additional jobs. Mining grew by 1,200 jobs.
Government employment lost 2,800 jobs over the year, mostly at the local and federal levels, while manufacturing lost 1,900 jobs. Construction lost 1,400 jobs, and the professional and business services industry lost 1,200 jobs.
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