FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug.

1, 2013 In Case You Missed It: ABQ GAINS 7,200 JOBS ALBUQUERQUE, NM The city added 7,200 jobs between June 2012 and last month, another sign that Albuquerque is recovering from the worst economic climate since the Great Depression. Metro jobs rise points to recovery By Journal Staff on Wed, Jul 31, 2013 The Albuquerque metropolitan statistical area added 7,200 jobs between June 2012 and last month, the largest year-over-year increase in employment since 2006, according to the state Workforce Solutions Department. The MSAs unemployment rate dipped to 7 percent from 7.1 percent in May and 7.4 percent in June 2012. New Mexicos June unemployment rate was 6.8 percent. The national unemployment rate was 7.6 percent. The news suggests an overall recovery is finally happening in Albuquerque, even though some of the June jobs report data are suspect, said Lee Reynis, director of the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research. Surveys show local government in the area added 3,000 jobs, a number Reynis called a bit of an aberration. But if you look at private-sector growth, youll see year-over-year its up 4,300 jobs, Reynis said. That in itself is quite good. Workforce Solutions cautioned that the employment numbers are not seasonally adjusted and partially reflect the typical increase in jobs during the summer months. However, this is the third consecutive month of positive growth rates and it suggests that the labor market is healthier compared to April, May, and June of last year. Construction employment grew 1,100 jobs year-over-year in the MSA, which includes Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia counties. The information industry added 1,200 jobs, leisure and hospitality grew by 1,600 jobs, and education and health services grew by 1,000 jobs. Manufacturing lost 800 jobs. Employment also declined in the wholesale trade and retail trade sectors and in federal government.