Welcome to the monthly e-newsletter for
New Mexico Workforce Connection - Southwestern Area
New Mexico Workforce Connection is the region's workforce expert, helping hundreds of employers connect with thousands of job seekers each year. We offer innovative solutions to assist businesses with their success in today's highly competitive workforce while providing the tools job seekers need to find or advance in their current career.
Graduate Spotlight
The Tuition Assistance program at New Mexico Workforce Connection helped Ms. Rodriguez attend and graduate from Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM.
Youth Services Spotlight
The current pandemic did not deter Ms. Sanchez from completing high school virtually and graduating at the Alamo Navajo Reservation in Socorro County.

Learn how the Alamo Navajo School Board, Inc. is providing WIOA Youth Services in their community.
Southwestern Area Workforce Development Board
Partner Action Teams
The Southwestern Area Workforce Development Board (SAWDB) created Partner Action Teams to help develop objectives and initiatives to meet the goals in the Southwestern Area Local Four-Year Plan 2020-2023.

The first Partner Action Team meeting was held on Thursday, February 11, 2021 via Zoom. The topic of discussion for this meeting was Strategic Youth Initiatives and it included a work-session.
CN WIRE Corporation
Recruitment Event
CN WIRE Corporation located in Santa Teresa, NM teamed with New Mexico Workforce Connection to host a virtual Recruitment Event on February 19, 2021 via Zoom.

CN WIRE has job opportunities to fill and at this recruitment event, CN WIRE staff provided information about the vacancies and how to apply.

Do you know someone looking for work and may be interested in working at CN WIRE? Positions are still available.
La Clinica de Familia
Recruitment Event
La Clinica de Familia (LCDF) located in Las Cruces, NM teamed with New Mexico Workforce Connection to host a virtual Recruitment Event on February 22, 2021 via Zoom.

LCDF has job opportunities to fill and at this recruitment event, LCDF staff provided information about the vacancies and how to apply.

Do you know someone looking for work and may be interested in working at La Clinica de Familia? Positions are still available.
SW Region Town Hall:
Youth Services During COVID-19
New Mexico Workforce Connection Southwestern Region hosted its second Town Hall on February 25, 2021 via Zoom.

At this Town Hall, the youth services experts provided information on the services available to youth ages 14-24.
NEW! Calendar of Activities on EmployNM
Would you like to see a calendar of upcoming workforce activities and events in the Southwestern area? A Calendar of Activities has been added to EmployNM and accessible from the Home page. NMWC staff will add activities for each NMWC office as soon as they learn about them.

You can access the Calendars page directly from the EmployNM home page. Then select an NMWC office to see their upcoming activities.
Hot Jobs
Each week, New Mexico Workforce Connection Business Consultants create a Hot Jobs video highlighting newly posted vacancies from employers in the Southwestern region who are eager to hire.

The Hot Jobs videos can be found on the EmployNM YouTube Channel.
Job opportunities can be found at the New Mexico Workforce Connection Online System (NMWCOS) with job description information and how to apply.
Jobs of the Week with the City of Las Cruces
CLC-TV is a TV channel for the City of Las Cruces available on Comcast. Each Monday, during a City of Las Cruces City Council meeting, the episode begins with Pet of the Week, and then followed by Jobs of the Week. In the Jobs of the Week segment, Ms. Quillin, Assistant One-Stop Operator for New Mexico Workforce Connection in the Southwestern Area shares a list of five newly posted local job opportunities.
New Mexico Workforce Connection Youth Services
The Youth Program at New Mexico Workforce Connection offers On-the-Job Training to eligible youth ages 16-24. Youth are placed at a local business where they gain work experience at no cost to the employer. The program covers the youth participant's wages.
New Mexico Workforce Connection
Services
To learn more about what New Mexico Workforce Connection can do for you,
visit our website at
New Mexico Workforce Connection
Offices
While all New Mexico Workforce Connection offices are closed due to the Governor's stay-at-home order, staff are available by phone Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except holidays). Contact the New Mexico Workforce Connection nearest you.
ONE-STOP OPERATOR UPDATES
Workforce Center Status

Our offices are currently still on restricted access but are reviewing the operational re-open plan and resurfacing those conversations to start working towards more in-person services. Although our largest county has taken a step back into the red category and this may delay the process, we are still trying to move as swiftly as possible while still being cautious in moving towards loosening our restricted access.
 
We appreciate the patience of the public and want to ensure that everyone is aware of what to expect as staff re-enter. The first thing to keep in mind is that the unemployment division of the Department of Workforce Solutions is completely centralized and has no staff in any local office. Although there are some limited items our staff can offer in support of UI claims, they cannot process, modify or consult over the claim. We understand the hardship the public has faced and want you to know our teams have worked diligently to bring more UI staff on to answer calls on that 1-800 line and continue to broaden the availability of services to those in need of support with their claims. 
 
Our local teams are in the process of developing a strategy that will best be suited to assist staff in a safe return to the office as well as to ensure customers get the career development assistance they need. Please don't hesitate to call our local offices, numbers can be found on www.employnm.com. Please Follow, Like, and Subscribe to us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and our YouTube channel @EmployNM to learn more about what we can do to help New Mexicans find and keep their employment.
 
Thank you Southwestern New Mexico and stay safe!
Services Provided in February 2021
During the month of February 2021, 540 new individuals registered in the New Mexico Workforce Connection Online System (NMWCOS) in the Southwestern region. Services were provided to 1,422 individuals, 131 Virtual Recruiters were created, 159 résumés were added, and 926 services were provided to employers.
Job Seekers, program your Virtual Recruiter to send you alerts when new jobs containing your selected key words are posted in the NMWCOS.

Create your Virtual Recruiter today! Need assistance? Contact a New Mexico Workforce Connection office near you!

Data Source: New Mexico Workforce Connection Online System
BY THE NUMBERS
Funds Invested by Program
The WIOA Adult & Dislocated Worker programs funded by the Southwestern Area Workforce Development Board provide individuals with career and participant training services that lead to obtaining credentials and work experience for career opportunities. The New Mexico Workforce Connection centers offer the services year around.
MONTHLY NEWS RELEASES
NMDWS Labor Market Review
The New Mexico Labor Market Review (LMR) presents the most up-to-date labor market highlights and happenings. The LMR is produced and published monthly and includes data on the labor force, jobs, and unemployment for the state and select substate areas.
BLS State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release: January 2021
In December, unemployment rates were lower in 19 states, higher in 12 states and the District of Columbia, and stable in 19 states. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 15 states, decreased in 11 states, and was essentially unchanged in 24 states and the District.

BEA News: Personal Income and Outlays
January 2021
Personal income increased 0.6 percent (monthly rate) while consumer spending decreased 0.2 percent in December as many provisions of the CARES Act continued to wind down before the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act was enacted on December 27, 2020. Additionally, new restrictions and closures took effect in some areas of the United States.
VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS
New Mexico Workforce Connection offers FREE weekly virtual workshops for employers, job seekers, and the general public. Click on any icon below for more information about that workshop.
Softskills in the Workplace
Tuesdays 9am - 11am
Résumé Skills
Wednesdays 9am - 11am
Interview Skills
Thursdays 9am - 11am
UPCOMING MEETINGS
for the
Region IV, Chief Elected Officials and the
Southwestern Area Workforce Development Board & Committees
Due to unforeseen circumstances, meeting date and/or venue can change.
Please visit our website for the latest updates.
March Meetings
• Thursday, March 18, 2021 - Policy Committee Meeting
• Friday, March 19, 2021 - Region IV, Chief Elected Officials Meeting
April Meetings
• Thursday, April 8, 2021 - SAWDB Board Meeting
• Friday, April 9, 2021 - Planning Committee Meeting
• Monday, April 12, 2021 - Youth & Young Adult Committee Meeting
• Thursday, April 22, 2021 - Disabilities Committee Meeting
SURVEY
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Have a great day!
Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Relay New Mexico: 711 (Voice) or 1-800-659-8331 (TTY)
FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Southwestern Area Workforce Development Board
PO Box 1072, Elephant Butte, NM 87935