The Business Services Division (BSD) was created to build a strong partnership between business and the public workforce system. The BSD will use a combination of proven and innovative strategies to provide greater solutions, tools, and services to the business community of New Mexico

Economic Research and Analysis Bureau

The Economic Research and Analysis Bureau produces labor market information by collecting, analyzing, reporting and publishing of information about economic conditions and trends such as the unemployment rate, job growth and wage levels. Information is also provided on the types of jobs and how they are changing, the workers available and their characteristics. Labor market information is the information a free economy relies on to operate efficiently. This information is used by many constituents and for a variety of purposes. To include: Job seekers and students; Businesses; Educators and Workforce Investment Boards, and; Policy Makers.

Business Development and Outreach Bureau

Working with Local Workforce Boards and their Business Service Units, the department helps disseminate agency policy and employee business-driven best practices. These activities include bi-annual workforce forms and a statewide conference. Additionally the division provides on-going technical assistance.

• Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is federally funded and was created to assist workers who are dislocated due to foreign imports or the transfer of production to Mexico or Canada. The program offers retaining, and reimbursement for job search and relocation expenses. It also provides monetary benefits, referred to as TRA, for those who enroll in TAA approved training.
• Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) the Department of Workforce Solutions administers a Federal Tax Credit program that may earn businesses as much as $2,400 to $9,000 per qualified employee. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit provides federal tax credits to businesses who hire new employees from the nine population groups who are in need of funding and retaining employment. The nine population groups are: TANF recipient; Veterans receiving food stamps or discharge from the service; Ex-Felon, high risk youth living in designated area; workers referred by summer youth; 18-39 year old food stamps recipients; receiving supplemental social security income; and long term family assistant recipient.
• Rapid Response (RR) is early intervention service to assist both employers and employees affected by layoffs or plant closures. It provides access to user-friendly resources and information to help transition affected workers into re-employment. When a company has to lay off employees it is difficult for both the employer and the affected workers. The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions provides Rapid Response assistance statewide to help employees gain access to all Federal and State programs that have resources available to help them. In addition, the State working with Economic Development can in some cases help the company avert the layoff.

The mission of the Labor Relations Division is to administer, enforce, and execute state labor laws regulating hours of labor, employment of minors, public works Minimum Wage Act, and the Apprenticeship and Training Act.

Labor & Industrial Bureau

The Labor & Industrial Bureau enforces minimum wage, payment of wages, and overtime labor laws under the Minimum Wage Act. The bureau also enforces the payment of scale wages to laborers and mechanics under the Public Works Minimum Wage Act. The bureau takes claims for unpaid wages from employees and ex-employees under both acts. The bureau also provides seminars and materials to employer and employee groups on the compliance requirements of the various state labor laws.

Wage and Hour, Apprenticeship, child labor, 2011 prevailing wage setting

Human Rights Bureau

The Human Rights Bureau accepts and investigates claims of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, ancestry, sex, age, physical and mental handicap, serious medical condition, disability, spousal affiliation, sexual orientation and gender identity. The Human Rights Bureau also offers free training and technical advice to employer and employee groups or any other interested groups about preventing discrimination in the workplace and the Human Rights Act.

The Workforce Transition Services Division is the largest service branch of NMDWS that directly serves the citizens of New Mexico. Services are provided by building a demand-driven, skills based public workforce system in New Mexico with integrated local service delivery, strong flexibility, high standards of accountability, and targeted public and private resources to meet the needs of the states businesses, workers, and job seekers. This division provides comprehensive customer-centered and market driven workforce services as a valuable partner in the Workforce Connection Centers; also provides unemployment Insurance benefits to New Mexicans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Workforce Services Bureau

The Workforce Services Bureau has statewide oversight of Workforce Development programs, for both youth and adults, funded by Wagner-Peyser, Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the Veterans Act. This bureau administers the state’s Virtual One-Stop System (VOSS) that tracks and reports program participation. In addition, the Bureau works in partnership with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Department of Human Services to serve persons with disabilities.

Unemployment Insurance Bureau

The Unemployment Insurance (UI) program pays benefits to people who are out of work through no fault of their own and who meet certain qualifications. Employers support this program by paying an unemployment tax to the state and federal governments. These are called “Covered Employers.” The law prohibits an employer from deducting money from employee’s wages for Unemployment Insurance Benefits.

• To file a new claim, speak with a customer service representative, or to make weekly certifications may be done through the toll free number 1-877-NM-4-MY-UI (1-877-664-6984) or online at www.dws.state.nm.us.
• For New Mexico Unemployment Tax information contact a tax representative at 505-841-8576 or find more information online at www.dws.state.nm.us.

The Administrative Services Division provides leadership, direction, and administrative services support to each agency program to achieve organizational goals and objectives. The division is made up of the following key organizations and bureaus:

• Financial Management Bureau
• Budget Bureau
• Procurement Bureau
• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Fiscal
• Workforce Grants Auditing Bureau
• General Services Bureau