The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS), whose mission is to Educate, Empower, Employ, and Enforce, is committed to being a leader in and a facilitator of a competitive workforce for the benefit of all New Mexico. The department’s goals are: to be a business-driven department, understanding the needs of employers with a focus on the employability of all New Mexicans; to be an integral part of all economic development and education initiatives; to be efficient and responsive to the diverse needs of New Mexico’s employers and workforce; and to be a “gateway” to employment.
NMDWS has statewide oversight of workforce development programs, for both youth and adults, funded by Wagner-Peyser, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and the Veterans Act. NMDWS administers various federal programs including: Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA); Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC); and Rapid Response (RR). NMDWS also enforces minimum wage, payment of wages, and overtime labor laws under the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act in addition to enforcing the payment of scale wages to laborers and mechanics under the New Mexico Public Works Minimum Wage Act. The department accepts and investigates claims of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, ancestry, sex, age, physical and mental handicap, serious medical condition, disability, spousal affiliation, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The department also produces labor market information by collecting, analyzing, reporting, and publishing information about economic conditions and trends such as the unemployment rate, job growth and wage levels. Information is also provided on the types of jobs and how they are changing, the available workers and their characteristics. Lastly, NMDWS administers the Unemployment Insurance (UI), the largest program in the department, which pays benefits to people who are out of work through no fault of their own and who meet certain qualifications. NMDWS processes claims for unemployment benefits, manages the UI Operations Center, and authorizes the weekly payment of benefits to claimants submitting their UI certifications.
Divisions
In order to achieve these goals and serve all New Mexicans effectively, the department has various divisions and bureaus which enhance, support, and complement one another. Below, you will find information and descriptions of these divisions and bureaus.
The Administrative Services Division provides leadership, direction, and administrative services support to each agency program to achieve organizational goals and objectives. The division is made up of the General Services Bureau and the Financial Management Bureau.
The New Mexico Commission for Community Volunteerism (NMCCV) engages citizens of New Mexico of all ages and backgrounds in community-based service. NMCCV provides oversight and accountability for grants and leads volunteerism initiatives throughout the state. Grants provide assistance to programs to recruit, train, and supervise AmeriCorps members meeting critical community needs. Grant applicants design service activities for a team of members serving full- or part- time during the summer or up to one year.
The Economic Research & Analysis Bureau (ER&A) is the principal source of labor market information for the state. ER&A collects, analyzes, reports, and publishes information about economic conditions and trends such as the unemployment rate, job growth and wage levels.
The Employment Services Division was created to build a strong partnership between business and the public workforce system. The Employment Services Division will use a combination of proven and innovative strategies to provide greater solutions, tools, and services to the business community of New Mexico. Working with Local Workforce Boards and their Business Service Units, the department helps disseminate agency policy and employee business-driven best practices. These activities include bi-annual workforce forms and a statewide conference. Additionally the division provides on-going technical assistance.
- Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is federally funded and was created to assist workers who are dislocated due to foreign imports or the transfer of production to Mexico or Canada. The program offers retaining, and reimbursement for job search and relocation expenses. It also provides monetary benefits, referred to as TRA, for those who enroll in TAA approved training.
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federally funded tax credit program administered by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions that may earn businesses as much as $2,400 to $9,000 per qualified employee. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit provides federal tax credits to businesses who hire new employees from nine population groups who are in need of funding and retaining employment. The nine population groups are: Veterans; TANF recipients; SNAP recipients; designated community residents; vocational rehabilitation referrals; ex-felons; Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients; summer youth employees; and long-term unemployment recipients.
- Rapid Response (RR) is early intervention service to assist both employers and employees affected by layoffs or plant closures. It provides access to user-friendly resources and information to help transition affected workers into re-employment. When a company has to lay off employees it is difficult for both the employer and the affected workers. The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions provides Rapid Response assistance statewide to help employees gain access to all Federal and State programs that have resources available to help them. In addition, the State working with Economic Development can in some cases help the company avert the layoff.
State Workforce Board - Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)
The Labor Relations Division is committed to enhancing the wellbeing of the workforce through education and enforcement of New Mexico labor laws. We provide quality investigative services and strive to deter discrimination and harassment, unsafe child labor, paid sick leave violations, and unfair wage practices for New Mexico workers.
Human Rights Bureau
The Human Rights Bureau accepts and investigates claims of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, ancestry, sex, age, physical and mental handicap, serious medical condition, disability, spousal affiliation, sexual orientation and gender identity. The Human Rights Bureau also offers free training and technical advice to employer and employee groups or any other interested groups about preventing discrimination in the workplace and the Human Rights Act.
The Unemployment Insurance (UI) Division administers the employer-financed program that provides temporary, partial income replacement to qualified individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own. UI benefits are financed through employer payroll taxes; they are not deducted from employee paychecks. Everyone who collects UI benefits is legally responsible for following the rules according to New Mexico state law.
The Division of Workforce Technology provides a full range of information technology services and support to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. Application support is provided to both Tax and Claims Unemployment Systems. Workforce Transition Services’ Virtual One-Stop System, Labor and Industrial systems and various other administrative support applications. Workforce Technology hosts a Data Center with mainframe and server hardware, a large network connecting state-wide NMDWS regional offices, data and network security, help desk, desktop support, and production services. Workforce Technology is an important component of the Department of Workforce Solutions in that we strive to implement technology which will deliver services to our citizens in a more efficient and timely manner and to extend our services so that every citizen in our State has easy and quick access to these services.