2,800 workers trained for climate, infrastructure careers
Nearly three thousand New Mexicans have been trained for infrastructure and climate-ready careers – far surpassing the statewide target of 2,000 by the end of the year.
The numbers surpass targets outlined in the Governor’s Building New Mexico’s Workforce to Foster the Clean Energy Transition, Infrastructure Investments, and Resilient Communities, Executive Order 2024-152, which required a strategic and unified approach to enhance infrastructure and clean energy workforce training across 11 state agencies and offices.
“Without a skilled workforce, we cannot repair our aging infrastructure, improve community resilience or carry out the clean energy transition our laws demand,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “By breaking down silos, aligning agencies, and strengthening partnerships with educators, employers and labor, we are putting more New Mexicans to work in high-quality jobs that benefit their communities and move the state forward.”
In 2025, the Department of Workforce Solutions and partnership agencies strengthened cross-agency coordination to better align training, education and workforce investments with industry needs. Through a unified approach to workforce planning, agencies integrated sector demand, leveraged federal and state resources, and expanded access to high-quality training statewide.
Key outcomes include:
- 2,809 New Mexicans completed climate-ready or infrastructure aligned training to date, surpassing the statewide goal of 2,000 by December 2026.
- 2,931 total trainings completed with 61 participants receiving training in more than one category. Nearly half of all trainings occurred in infrastructure, including natural resources management, clean energy, and construction.
- More than $14 million in combined funding invested in apprenticeships, industry-recognized credentials, energy-efficiency training and employer-driver upskilling programs.
These results reflect growing alignment between workforce investments and employer demand across clean energy transportation, water infrastructure, construction and related sectors.
“This report shows the impact we can have when we collaborate closely to achieve a clearly defined goal,” said NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair. “Since Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued Executive Order 2024-152, demand for New Mexicans to work in infrastructure, clean energy, and climate-ready industries has grown dramatically. These efforts are ensuring we have the people we need to deploy investments in infrastructure and energy, and to foster lasting careers that pay well all across the state.”
A few examples of cross-agency collaboration as outlined in the report include:
- Industry Credential Pipeline Program – A coordinated effort among NMDWS, the New Mexico Department of Transportation, and Central New Mexico Community College. By aligning credential standards, funding pathways, and employer engagement, the program created a streamlined route for New Mexicans to earn high-value, industry recognized credentials tired directly to job opportunities across the state. The first cohort graduated in October 2025 with 10 of 12 leaving the program with full-time job offers at the Dept. of Transportation.
- Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) Program – Implemented in partnership with the New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department and Santa Fe Community College. This initiative focuses on equipping HVAC technicians with skills needed to install and maintain cold climate heat pumps, certifying plumbers in heat pump water heater installation, and supporting pathways for students pursuing electrical technology certificates and home performance retrofit installers. This training program meets the demand for homeowners and home builders to have energy efficient and electrified homes.
Looking ahead through 2026, agencies are deepening this collaborative model by embedding climate-ready and infrastructure priorities into interagency agreements and workforce planning, grounded in a shared statewide definition of climate-ready and infrastructure job quality to guide program design.
The 2025 Annual Report is available at https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Portals/0/DM/BNMCRIW_Annual_Report_2025.pdf.