Latest News

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) began processing payments to unemployed workers under the federal Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program on September 3. New Mexico was one of the first states to apply and be approved for the LWA grant when it was announced 4 weeks ago.   

All New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions’ offices, including the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center, will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. The department urges claimants to plan accordingly.  

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding of $5,000 to $15,000 per individual is available to unemployed workers for skill-building stackable certifications and degrees needed for careers in demand within healthcare, information technology, construction trades, education and more.

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions’ (NMDWS), Economic Research & Analysis Bureau has developed a financial budgeting tool that estimates the minimum income needed for a person to cover their monthly living costs. The tool, known as Why I Work, allows individuals to customize their expenses and leads them into career exploration for occupations with a salary that will meet and cover their selected living costs.

New Mexico was the first state in the country to submit a grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Lost Wages Assistance (LWA).  The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) has received approval and grant funding from FEMA for the program that was authorized through an August 8th Presidential Memorandum.