Unemployment at record high despite Federal stimulus

Friday, on the same day the NM Workforce Solutions Department issued a report showing unemployment in the state has hit a 8.3 percent, a record 22-year high, Gov. Bill Richardson issued a statement claiming the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is responsible for creating or saving 10,000 jobs full and part-time jobs.

In fact, on Friday, Richardson said 10,221 New Mexicans received full- or part-time work as a result of state spending of federal stimulus funds.

The state, in its second quarterly report filed with the federal Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, said that 2,959 full-time equivalent jobs have been funded from Oct. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2009.

The jobs, located all over the state, are in public schools, on transportation projects, in law enforcement, health care, social services and other areas, according to a news release.

New Mexico is expected to receive more than $3.4 million in stimulus awards over the life of the Recovery Act.