NM Department of Workforce Solutions

LABOR MARKET INFORMATION

Basic Concepts

COMMONLY USED TERMS

CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE, EMPLOYMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (Persons by Place of Residence)
: These estimates are derived monthly; however, the exact time period to which the estimates pertain is the calendar week including the 12th day of the month. This week is usually referred to as the "survey week."
Civilian Labor Force: The term "labor force" usually refers to the total number of persons, 16 years of age and older, classified as "employed" or "unemployed." "Civilian Labor Force" is the total labor force (as defined above), excluding persons in the Armed Forces. Most published data on the labor force, including national and state estimates, pertain to the Civilian Labor Force.
Employment: Employed persons are those individuals, 16 years of age and older, who did any work at all during the survey week as paid employees; or who worked in their own business, profession, or farm; or who worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in a family operated business. Also counted as employed are those persons who had jobs or businesses from which they were temporarily absent because of illness, bad weather, vacation, labor-management dispute, or personal reasons. Individuals are counted only once even though they may hold more than one job.
Unemployment: Unemployed persons comprise all persons who did not work during the survey week but who made specific efforts to find a job within the previous four weeks and were available for work during the survey week (except for temporary illness). Also included as unemployed are those who did not work at all and were available for work, but were not actively seeking work because they were (a) waiting to be called back to a job from which they were laid off; or (b) waiting to report to a new job within 30 days.
Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate presents the number unemployed as a percent of the civilian labor force.
NONAGRICULTURAL WAGE AND SALARY EMPLOYMENT (Jobs by Place of Work): This monthly employment-by-industry series refers to the number of persons on individual employer payrolls during the reference period. The reference period for all employers, except federal government, is the pay period which includes the 12th day of the month. For federal government establishments, the reference period used is the last day of the calendar month. Intermittent federal workers are counted if they performed any service during the month.
Included are all full-time and part-time wage and salary workers. This data excludes agricultural workers, proprietors, self-employed, unpaid volunteers or family workers, domestic workers in individual households, and members of the armed forces (civilian military jobs are included). Also omitted are employees on leave without pay or on strike for the entire reference period.
It is important to note that this data series differs from the "employment" estimates described in Section I. A. (above), because the nonagricultural wage and salary series counts jobs by place of work while the employment series counts employed persons by place of residence.
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) -: The general concept of an MSA is a large population nucleus, together with any adjacent communities which have a high degree of economic and social integration with that nucleus. MSAs are designated so that governmental agencies will use a common geographical classification in the production of data on metropolitan areas in the nation. Standard definitions of metropolitan areas for federal statistical purposes are established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

New Mexico has four MSAs: the Albuquerque MSA (Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia Counties), the Farmington MSA (San Juan County), the Las Cruces MSA (Dona Ana County), and the Santa Fe MSA (Santa Fe County).
Labor Force Participation Rate -: The number of persons in the labor force as a percent of the total population, 16 years of age and older.
Estimate: An approximate figure arrived at following specified procedures, thoughtful consideration of facts, and/or approximate calculations is an estimate. It does not imply an exact figure and may be subject to change or revision as additional facts or techniques become available. Estimates based on early sample returns or based heavily upon the judgment of an analyst because important information is as yet unavailable are identified as preliminary estimates.
Revised Estimate: This is a figure which has been developed using additional data or new techniques. The revision may not significantly change a previously issued figure.
Benchmark: A benchmark is a periodic planned revision.
Seasonal Adjustment: The procedure of applying smoothing factors to an economic data series to remove the effects of routine fluctuations associated with weather and institutional schedules such as the school year.
Goods-producing Sector: The "Goods-producing Sector" in the nonagricultural employment tables includes the construction, manufacturing and mining industries.
Services-providing Sector: The "Services-producing Sector" in the nonagricultural employment tables includes: Retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; information; financial activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government.

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