By Jim Owen

The official unemployment rate in Grant County decreased significantly from August to September, according to preliminary statistics the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions released this week.

Out of a labor force of 11,637 county residents, 770 were actively looking for jobs last month. That amounted to a jobless rate of 6.6 percent, down from 7.4 percent in August, when 861 of 11,586 people were searching for work. In September 2013, 851 of 11,602 (7.3 percent) were counted as unemployed.

Just nine New Mexico counties reported higher jobless rates last month. In the southern half of the state, only Luna County (at 10.9 percent) was worse than Grant County. It tied with Mora County for the state's highest rate.

According to the department, no job losses will result from this fall's closing of Silver Rexall, the county's last independent, locally owned pharmacy. The new CVS store in Silver City purchased the business, which has been in operation since the 1950s. CVS reportedly plans to hire all of the pharmacy's employees.

The department also noted that Masa y Mas Tortilleria closed its doors in downtown Silver City in August, after five years in business.

Among current job listings in Grant County are multiple positions at Gila Regional Medical Center, including those of surgical technician, physical-therapy assistant, behavioral-health technician, support specialist, dietary assistant, accounting specialist, registration clerk, administrative secretary, business-office worker, food-service worker and First Born program home visitor.

Boutique Air, the county's recommended air-service provider at the airport south of Hurley, is seeking to hire a customer-service manager. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. is looking for an infrastructure technician at the Tyrone Mine, while Lawley's Team Ford has a couple of vacant positions.

Statewide, at last report, 18 percent of job openings were related to health care and social assistance. Sixteen percent involved administration, support and waste management. Also high on the list were retail trade (10 percent of job listings); professional, scientific and technical services (9 percent); and public administration (9 percent).

In Catron County, the unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in September, when 81 people (out of a labor force of 1,555) were unemployed. That was down from 88 of 1,564 (5.6 percent) in August, and 95 of 1,619 (5.9 percent) in September 2013.

Hidalgo County's rate fell from 6.9 percent in July, and 6 percent in August, to 5.3 percent last month. It was 5.4 percent a year ago. The unemployment statistics in Sierra County were 5 percent last month, 5.6 percent in August and 5.7 percent in September 2013.

Statewide, 6.1 percent of the labor force was unemployed in September, down from 6.9 percent the previous month and 6.6 percent in September 2013. The nationwide statistics were 6.6 percent last month, 6.7 percent in August and 6.8 percent a year ago.

Official rates include only workers who have registered at state unemployment offices. The numbers do not include residents who are looking for work on their own, those who have given up searching, part-time employees or the under-employed.

The department reported:

"The rate of over-the-year job growth for nonfarm payroll employment, comparing September 2014 with September 2013, was 0.8 percent. This represented a gain of 6,400 jobs, the largest all-industry increase in 13 months.

"The current round of net job gains started in June 2014 after eight months of year-over-year losses. Gains in seven industries offset losses in five others, while one industry remained unchanged.

"Education and health services continued to lead all other industries, with an increase of 4,500 jobs, or 3.6 percent, over the year. The last three months of employment gains have exceeded 4,000 and have been the highest since March 2009.

"Financial activities continued to show encouraging signs, with an increase of 2,300 jobs, or 6.9 percent, over the year. Retail trade added 1,900 jobs, nearing its post-recessionary peak in over-the-year growth of 2,000 jobs in March of this year. This industry has shown consistent over-the-year growth since September 2011, apart from two neutral months and one negative month in 2013.

"Mining employment was up 1,600 jobs, or 6.1 percent. 'Other services' returned to positive growth, adding 1,200 jobs, or 4.3 percent. Information, up 800; and transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 500, contributed smaller increases. Wholesale trade remained unchanged from September 2013.

"The remaining four private-sector industries all reported losses. Manufacturing lost 2,300 jobs, or 7.8 percent. Employment within professional and business services was down 1,300 jobs, or 1.3 percent. Construction employment was down by 600 jobs, or 1.4 percent. Leisure and hospitality employment was down 400 jobs, a year-over-year loss of 0.4 percent.

"Government employment registered a net loss of 1,800 jobs since September of last year, representing a 0.9 percent decline. Most losses occurred within local government, which shed 1,400 jobs.

"The federal government sector lost 300 jobs, representing a 1 percent decrease, while employment in state government fell by100 jobs, or 0.2 percent, over the year. State government losses would have been somewhat higher but for 200 job gains in state government education."