In Lea County, jobs in the other financial investment activities pay the highest wages

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Employment in the other financial investment activities industry had the highest average wages in Lea County for the 2nd quarter of 2006. The average worker in the industry in Lea County was paid an annual wage of $115,180 in 2nd quarter of 2006. The pay is greater than the average industry wage in the State of New Mexico of $64,359 and less than then the pay for jobs in this industry in the United States of $120,327.

Top-pay jobs in Lea County, New Mexico are present in accounting and bookkeeping services ($74,969), electronic equipment repair and maintenance ($73,846), oil and gas extraction ($67,303) and machinery and equipment rental and leasing ($55,721) industries. Note: Clicking the Above Graphic Displays the Detailed Comparison

About: These facts are part of the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Lea County Wages have increased by 31.3% Since 2001

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From 2001 to 2006, average industry wages increased in Lea County, New Mexico by a total of 31.3%. This is greater than the growth in industry wages for New Mexico and greater than the growth in average industry wages for the United States.

About: These facts are part of the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Lea County Industry Wages Exceed New Mexico, but Wages Lag Behind the United States

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The overall industry wages in Lea County, New Mexico when analyzed can be described as relatively high when compared to other 2nd quarter of 2006 County wages throughout the state. The average pay is 14.7 percent higher than the state, which accounted an average of $32,032. The average pay was less than the overall average in the United States of $40,259.

About: These facts are part of the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Lea County Five-Year Industry Employment Change

Lea County Five-Year Percentage Decline in Employment

The Office supplies, stationery, and gift stores industry has lost the biggest percent of jobs, losing 81.2 percent from 2001 (2nd Quarter) to 2006 (2nd Quarter). These losses have declined faster than the industry has experienced in the State of New Mexico, where the industry reported a loss of 9.9 percent. The losses in the Office supplies, stationery, and gift stores industry in Lea County outpaced the losses of nation as a whole in the industry. In this time period, the nation lost 17.8 in percent of jobs in the Office supplies, stationery, and gift stores industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Office supplies, stationery, and gift stores (81.2 percent decline)
2. Other miscellaneous store retailers (68.4 percent decline)
3. Motor vehicle and parts merchant wholesalers (49.5 percent decline)
4. Drycleaning and laundry services (43.9 percent decline)
5. Other schools and instruction (42.3 percent decline)

The total number of jobs has increased by 17.2 percent since the 2nd Quarter of 2001. This is greater than percent in the State of New Mexico, which went through a gain of 10.5 percent from 2001 (2nd Quarter). The gains the area experienced were greater than than the gain reported at the US level of 2.6 percent.

Lea County Five-Year Percentage Growth in Employment

The Investigation and security services industry has experienced the largest percentage growth, expanding by 275.0 percent from the 2nd quarter of 2001 to the 2nd quarter of 2006. This industry sector in Lea County has added employment faster than the industry has grown in the State of New Mexico, where it saw a gain of 20.7 percent. The Investigation and security services industry in Lea County outpaced the US in terms of percent growth of industry employment. During this period, the US gained 7.7 percent.

Top 5 Industries
1. Investigation and security services (275.0 percent gain)
2. Remediation and other waste services (252.1 percent gain)
3. Building material and supplies dealers (185.4 percent gain)
4. Commercial machinery repair and maintenance (143.0 percent gain)
5. Specialized freight trucking (141.4 percent gain)

Total Five-Year Employment Growth in Lea County

The Support activities for mining industry has added the most employment with 1,200 employees finding new jobs in the industry. The employment growth in the Support activities for mining industry makes up 35.6 percent of the total number of new jobs in Lea County.

Top 5 Industries
1. Support activities for mining (1,200 new jobs)
2. Specialized freight trucking (320 new jobs)
3. Home health care services (237 new jobs)
4. Limited-service eating places (188 new jobs)
5. Commercial machinery repair and maintenance (181 new jobs)

In Lea County, New Mexico, the total number of jobs throughout all industries has increased by 3,383 jobs from mid-2001 to mid-2006.

Of the 65 4-digit NAICS industries, 23 showed an escalation in the number employed, while 42 industries reported a drop in employment.

Total Five-Year Employment Decline in Lea County

From of the area's 4-digit NAICS industries, the Office supplies, stationery, and gift stores industry witnessed the largest drop in employment, losing a total of 136 jobs in that time period. The declines in the Office supplies, stationery, and gift stores industry make up 20.1 percent of the jobs lost during the period in Lea County, New Mexico.

Top 5 Industries
1. Office supplies, stationery, and gift stores (136 jobs lost)
2. Offices of physicians (116 jobs lost)
3. Automotive repair and maintenance (89 jobs lost)
4. Petroleum merchant wholesalers (57 jobs lost)
5. Other miscellaneous store retailers (56 jobs lost)





About: This report is part 2 of 6 in the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Lea County One-Year Industry Employment Change

Total One-Year Employment Decline in Lea County

Of the area's industries (4-digit NAICS), the Employment services industry faced the greatest employment loss with a total loss of 238 jobs. The declines in the Employment services industry make up 44.2 percent of the total job loss in Lea County, New Mexico.

Top 5 Industries
1. Employment services (238 jobs lost)
2. Drinking places, alcoholic beverages (67 jobs lost)
3. Automotive repair and maintenance (30 jobs lost)
4. Drycleaning and laundry services (24 jobs lost)
5. Machinery and equipment rental and leasing (24 jobs lost)

In Lea County, New Mexico, the entire sum of jobs in all industries overall has increased by 1,224 jobs between mid-2005 and mid-2006.

Out of the 77 industries with industry data reported by the BLS in each quarter, 25 showed an escalation in the number employed, while 52 industry sectors accounting for employment declines during that time period.

Total One-Year Employment Growth in Lea County

From the industries (4-digit NAICS) in the area, the Support activities for mining industry has accounted the most employment growth with a total of 868 new jobs created in the period. The job growth in the Support activities for mining industry makes up 45.3 percent of the total employment growth in Lea County.

Top 5 Industries
1. Support activities for mining (868 new jobs)
2. Specialized freight trucking (189 new jobs)
3. Machinery and supply merchant wholesalers (144 new jobs)
4. Full-service restaurants (88 new jobs)
5. Home health care services (57 new jobs)

Employment for all industries has increased by 5.6 percent from the reported values in 2005. These values are greater than growth in New Mexico, which went through a gain of 4.5 percent since the 2nd Quarter of 2005. The gains were greater than than the gain experienced overall in the US of 2.0 percent.

Lea County One-Year Percentage Growth in Employment

The Electronic markets and agents and brokers industry has seen the largest percentage job growth, expanding by 150.0 percent from 2005 to 2006. This industry in Lea County has increased employment faster than the overall industry growth seen in the State of New Mexico, where the industry felt a gain of 5.8 percent. The Electronic markets and agents and brokers industry in Lea County outpaced the United States, which experienced a gained 5.9 percent in this industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Electronic markets and agents and brokers (150.0 percent gain)
2. Warehousing and storage (88.3 percent gain)
3. Remediation and other waste services (86.2 percent gain)
4. Computer systems design and related services (70.6 percent gain)
5. Management of companies and enterprises (60.1 percent gain)

Lea County One-Year Percentage Decline in Employment

The Drinking places, alcoholic beverages industry has seen the largest percentage drop in employment, losing 52.2 percent from 2005 (2nd Quarter) to 2006 (2nd Quarter). These losses have declined faster than the industry has seen in the New Mexico, where the industry felt a loss of 29.4 percent. The losses in the Drinking places, alcoholic beverages industry in Lea County outpaced the United States industry losses overall. During this period, the United States lost 1.5 in percent of jobs in the Drinking places, alcoholic beverages industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Drinking places, alcoholic beverages (52.2 percent decline)
2. Other miscellaneous store retailers (33.9 percent decline)
3. Drycleaning and laundry services (31.6 percent decline)
4. Employment services (28.8 percent decline)
5. Private households (27.3 percent decline)





About: This report is part 1 of 6 in the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Income and Poverty in Lea County, New Mexico

In Lea County, New Mexico White householders had a median income (2005 Dollars) of $37,964 according to the 2000 Dencennial Census, which was 8.9 percent greater than the median in 2000. It was reported in 2000 that the Asian headed households had median household incomes of $29,901. This median income level is 14.2 percent less than the reported median for all households in the area. Hispanic households in Lea County, New Mexico recorded a median income of $26,986, this median is 22.6 percent less than the median reported for all households in the area. Black or African American headed households had median income levels that were 32.2 percent less than the all population median published in the 2000 Census, with a median of $23,633. The American Indian and Alaska Native headed households in Lea County reported an income level of $16,875, this was 51.6 percent less than the median level for total households in the area.

Compared to other counties (and parishes) throughout the nation, Lea County had a medium-low median income for all households of $34,865 (2005 Dollars). This median is 14.5 percent lower than the median income in State of New Mexico of $39,936 and the income level is 40.9 percent lower than the median household income level in the US of $49,133.

When compared to other counties (or parishes) across the United States, Lea County, New Mexico can be understood to have a relatively high poverty rate amongst the population, with a poverty rate of 21.1 percent of people living in a family with an income below the poverty level in 1999. The Black or African American race/ethnicity demographic category, owns the foremost rate of poverty with 34.9 percent of the 2000 population living in poverty. People that are of the age 5 years have the most percent of people living in poverty in Lea County, reporting 38.4 percent of this demographic group living with incomes under poverty.







Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census.

Higher Education in Lea County, New Mexico

Lea County, New Mexico has a moderately-educated population, with 11.6 percent of the population over 25 years old having received at least a Bachelors Degree, according to the Decennial Census of 2000. Lea is reported having a lower percent of population with this high education level than the State of New Mexico's proportion of 23.4 percent and a lower percent than the national average of 24.4 percent.

According to the 2000 Decennial Census in Lea County, New Mexico, the most common level of education achieved in the area for the male population is the Less than High School category, with 33 percent achieving this level. The female population in Lea have on average achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors Degree or Higher) than the male population-- 11.6 percent (Men) versus 11.6 percent (Women). A high proportion of the female population in the area has reached the Less than High School category, with 33 percent of women in the area reaching this education level.

In Lea County, New Mexico as reported in the Census of the year 2000, 14 percent of the White Alone, 5.4 percent of Black or African American, 41.4 percent of the Asian alone and 4 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population (over 25) has obtained a Bachelors Degree or Higher.





Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census.

Demographic Profile for Lea County, New Mexico

In terms of total land area, Lea encompasses a total area of 4393 square miles. The county has a very low density of 13 persons per square mile. Other counties with similar densities in the US include: -- more densely populated -- Washington, ME (13 per sq. mile ), Grant, KS (13 per sq. mile ), Kearney, NE (13 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Morgan, UT (13 per sq. mile ), Red River, TX (13 per sq. mile ), Dixon, NE (13 per sq. mile ).

Since 2000, a medium-high amount of people have migrated to Lea internationally. The international migration into Lea totals 1.9 percent of the total migration into the State of New Mexico. This percent of immigration can be considered medium-high when analyzed against the base population in the year 2005 and compared to other counties across the US.

The population division of the Census Bureau estimates in 2005 a median age in Lea County, New Mexico to be 33.9 years old. The median in Lea is less than the median age in the State of New Mexico of 36.2. Since the year 2000, the area has seen an increase in the median, when the median age was 33.2 years old. With 27.5 percent of the 2005 population being comprised of individuals under the age of 18, Lea can be described as having a relatively high proportion of youths. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-low representation within the estimated 2005 area population, making up 60.6 percent of the population within the age category. People 65 years old and older make up 11.9 percent of the total population in the area. Compared to other counties in the US, this represents a medium-low percent of the population.

Lea County, New Mexico has a population that is comprised of 49.3 percent White, 4.4 percent African American, 0.4 percent Asian, and 44.5 percent Hispanic. This area can be considered to have a very high amount of racial and ethnic diversity, with 49.3 percent minorities. This is greater than the State of New Mexico percent of 46.4. Since 2000, Lea has increased the percent of minority population when 44.4 percent of the population was made up of minorities.

Lea County, New Mexico had an estimated population of 56,719 in 2005. The estimated population has increased, since the 2000 total population of 55,192. This growth denotes an increase of 2.8 percent. Lea ranks 9 of 33 counties by growth in total population in New Mexico and the county ranks 940 of 3,141 counties when analyzing total county population change across the nation.

Datasource: Population Estimates Program, U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Housing Report for Lea County, New Mexico

Lea County recorded a median home value in 2000 of $50,100, according to the Decennial Census. This median is less than the State of New Mexico 2000 home value of $108,100 and less than median home value of $119,600 for the rest of the nation in that year.

In Lea County, the census reported 23,859 homes in the year 2005. This county has gone through a growth in housing units, adding in all 291 homes since 2001, or 1.2 percent.

There is a large amount of affordable housing in Lea County, New Mexico. In 2000, 93.6 percent of housing was valued under $125k.

Throughout the State of New Mexico, Lea County places 31 of 33 by percent in growth of new residential structures. The county places 2,496 of 3,141, comparing the percentage change in residential in other US counties.





Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Employment Report for Lea County, New Mexico -- Annual 2005 Industry Summary

Utilities has the largest employers in Lea County. The industry averages 27 workers per each place of employment, being less than the US industry average of 34 and greater than the New Mexico average of 18 for the Utilities industry.

Wholesale trade since the year 2001 lost the most jobs in Lea County. The sector dealt with a loss of 138 jobs, or 12.9 percent of industry's employment. The industry declines made up 58.5 percent of the total jobs loss in the County.

Arts, entertainment, and recreation is the industry that has grown the most in terms of employment from 2001-2005 in Lea County, increasing in size by 303.1 percent. This is greater than the national employment change in the industry of 4.7 percent. The State of New Mexico experienced a sector employment shift of 13.7 percent, in the duration of 2001 to 2005.

In Lea County, Mining, Utilities and Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industries, in terms of United States location quotient, are the most dominant in the region. The Mining industry has an LQ of 48.84. This means the percent of total employment in the Mining industry is 48.84 times more than the average percent in the United States, revealing signs that Lea specializes in Mining.

In Lea County, Mining, Retail Trade, and the Accommodation and food services sectors are the largest industries, in terms of total number of jobs in 2005. The Mining is the largest employment industry and makes up 24.7 percent of all jobs throughout the county, totaling 5,437 individuals. The Retail Trade and Accommodation and food services industries total 12.4 and 8.3 percent of industry employment.







Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW).