New Mexico's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 6.5 percent in July, up from 6.4 percent in June but unchanged from a year earlier.
The state Department of Workforce Solutions said Friday the state added 9,600 over the year, a 1.2 percent increase since July 2014 and the strongest over-the-year increase in July since 2007.
Officials say July was New Mexico's 35th consecutive month of over-the-year job growth.
The education and health services industry led July's over-the-year job growth with 8,200 jobs, a 6.7 percent gain for the industry and 56 percent of the state economy's total over-the-year July job growth.
Six other economic sectors including construction and leisure and hospitality added jobs.
Five sectors shed jobs including state and local government, mining, transportation, warehousing and utilities.
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