New Mexico's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent in August, increasing from 6.5 percent in July and 6.4 percent a year ago, despite adding jobs over the year.
State officials said Friday the 3,000-job increase from August 2014 was the state's 36th straight month of over-the-year growth of employment. The state's economy added 2,800 jobs since July.
The state Department of Workforce Solutions said five economic sectors added jobs, seven reported losses and one had no change in employment from August 2014.
The government sector added 5,500 jobs in August for the biggest increase since July, with most of the additional jobs in state and local education, while the construction industry's loss of 2,500 jobs was the largest decrease since July.
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