Workforce
Santa Fe’s business community is as diverse as the City’s culture. From biotechnology to cowboy boot manufacture, from alternative healing to financial services, Santa Fe has a wide array of vibrant industries.
Population radius
Santa Fe’s workforce is not limited to the population of the City. In addition to being a central location for culture and politics, Santa Fe is a business and employment center. Commuters within a one-hour drive from the City of Santa Fe live in at least five counties – Santa Fe County, Rio Arriba County, Los Alamos County, Sandoval County and San Miguel County.
Below is a table of the population in the Santa Fe Region and a breakdown by gender and age:
Population by Age – Santa Fe Region
(includes counties of Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and San Miguel)
Total Population | 344,796 |
Male | 169,418 |
Female | 175,372 |
15-19 yrs | 24,861 |
20-24 yrs | 25,188 |
25-34 yrs | 43,669 |
35-44 yrs | 48,723 |
45-54 yrs | 53,429 |
Median age, years | 36 |
Education
Santa Fe has a well-educated workforce, 41% of adult residents have a college degree or higher. There are three primary colleges in Santa Fe, each with its own strength.
The Santa Fe Community College
The Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) provides the region with affordable high quality education and training. Presented through a variety of delivery methods and time formats, this includes basic skill programs; certificates and technical degrees; associate degrees with four year transfer potential, and personal enrichment courses both for credit and not for credit. These offerings are designed to add value to the lives of our community members by broadening opportunities; enhancing personal income; improving working and living conditions; and fostering richer, healthier lives.
Each semester SFCC has around 5,400 students enrolled in the various associate degree programs or certificate or professional credential programs. This includes an Environmental Technology Program which includes both an associates degree and a certificate program. The curriculum is both theoretical and practical. Students get project-based learning and assessment in simulated work environments. The program helps develop critical thinking and problem solving skills by emphasizing teamwork on group projects. Students get a strong foundation that allows them to adapt to a wide range of employment opportunities in this diverse emerging industry.
President Sheila Ortego and Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) are eager to work with companies to develop any specialized workforce training and education programs they require. SFCC is home to the state-wide New Mexico Small Business Development Centers network.
SFCC is also home to the Center for Community Sustainability, which delivers education in sustainability, renewable energies technologies, environmental technologies, and certifications for energy raters. The college is developing curriculum to add sustainability across all our educational programs including science, math, English, and history. The college is also developing the Sustainable Technologies Center, which is part of the national Advanced Technology Center network to develop and deliver curriculum in smart grid technology and green building construction.
SFCC is working with Governor Richardson’s Science and Technology Advisor to install a gateway to New Mexico’s supercomputer. A partnership between the college, the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County is working to make sure the infrastructure required for the supercomputer and other ultra-high-speed broadband needs will be in place for education, telehealth, emergency services, and economic development.
The College of Santa Fe
The College of Santa Fe is diligent in offering flexible programs so that all are welcome and able to study. Thoughtful academic advising is emphasized and specific attention is paid to ethical values, both in and out of class. The school is committed to educating the “whole student.” It has a core curriculum which includes interdisciplinary team-taught courses that explore complex subjects in the humanities, creative expression, social and natural sciences. It has a total of about 1,900 students; approximately 750 in the traditional program and 1,200 evening and weekend students in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. 20 undergraduate programs, 2 masters programs and several certificate programs are offered.
St. John’s College
St. John’s College is a co-educational, four year liberal arts college known for its distinctive “great books” curriculum.
St. John’s is a single college located on two campuses, one in Annapolis, Maryland, and another here in Santa Fe.. The campuses share an identical curriculum (changes must be approved by both halves of the faculty) and a single governing board. Each campus is limited to well under 500 students, and the faculty-student ratio is 1 to 8.
The all-required course of study is based on the reading, study, and discussion of the most important books of the Western tradition. There are no majors and no departments; all students follow the same program.
Students study from the classics of literature, philosophy, theology, psychology, political science, economics, history, mathematics, laboratory sciences, and music. No textbooks are used. The books are read in roughly chronological order, beginning with ancient Greece and continuing to modern times.
All classes are discussion-based. There are no class lectures; instead, the students meet together with faculty members (called tutors) to explore the books being read.
New Mexico Tech
New Mexico Tech (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology) is the State’s equivalent of Cal Tech in California. Located just two hours south of Santa Fe, it provides an affordable world-class education for students interested in science and technology. It is an undergraduate and graduate university specializing in science and engineering education and research.
Levels of Education – Santa Fe Region
(includes counties of Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and San Miguel)
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT | |
Population 25 years and over (218,108) | |
Less than 9th grade | 5% |
9th to 12th grade, no diploma | 8% |
High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 29% |
Some college, no degree | 22% |
Associate degree | 8% |
Bachelor’s degree | 18% |
Graduate or professional degree | 12.5% |
Percent high school graduate or higher | 86% |
Percent bachelor’s degree or higher | 33% |
NONAGRICULTURAL WAGE AND SALARY EMPLOYMENT BY MAJOR SECTOR NEW MEXICO METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS (000s)
1996 to 2006
1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | %Change | |
Santa Fe MSA | (1996- 2006) | |||||||||||
Total Employment | 54.4 | 55.1 | 55.7 | 56.8 | 57.5 | 58.1 | 58.5 | 59.6 | 60.5 | 62.2 | 62.8 | 15% |
Total Private | 39.6 | 40.0 | 40.7 | 41.6 | 41.9 | 42.6 | 42.9 | 44.3 | 45.1 | 45.9 | 46.4 | 17% |
Goods Producing | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 11% |
Services Providing | 34.2 | 34.8 | 35.4 | 35.8 | 36.0 | 36.7 | 37.3 | 38.5 | 39.4 | 40.1 | 40.4 | 18% |
Natural Resources & Mining & Construction | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 36% |
Manufacturing | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | -39% |
Wholesale Trade | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 22% |
Retail Trade | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 7% |
Transp., Warehousing & Utils | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0% |
Information | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0% |
Financial Activities | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 19% |
Professional & Business | 3.6 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 41% |
Educational & Health | 6.5 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 8.1 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 29% |
Leisure & Hospitality | 8.4 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 8% |
Other Services | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 30% |
Government | 14.8 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 15.2 | 15.6 | 15.5 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 15.5 | 16.3 | 16.4 | 11% |
AVERAGE ANNUAL COVERED WAGES, BY MAJOR INDUSTRIAL SECTOR AND COUNTY
NAICS Classification System
Santa Fe County | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | % Change |
Grand Total | $29,623 | $31,230 | $31,036 | $32,535 | $33,299 | |
Total Private | 28,359 | 29,984 | 29,647 | 31,205 | 32,242 | 13.69% |
Ag. For. Fish. & Hunting | 22,798 | 23,224 | 25,074 | 25,133 | 25,201 | 10.54% |
Mining | 44,381 | 49,276 | 48,487 | 48,176 | 58,498 | 31.80% |
Utilities | * | 49,150 | 50,688 | * | * | |
Construction | 28,319 | 28,943 | 29,230 | 30,949 | 31,810 | 12.32% |
Manufacturing | 27,260 | 28,153 | 31,532 | 32,330 | 31,574 | 15.82% |
Wholesale Trade | 37,661 | 35,732 | 37,289 | 39,333 | 39,410 | 4.64% |
Retail Trade | 24,550 | 24,730 | 24,950 | 27,353 | 27,154 | 10.60% |
Transportation & Warehousing | 27,651 | 28,191 | 27,979 | 29,142 | 30,867 | 11.63% |
Information | 39,956 | 39,220 | 39,036 | 44,424 | 44,389 | 11.09% |
Finance & Insurance | 49,586 | 49,395 | 52,487 | 54,732 | 62,876 | 26.80% |
Real Estate & Rental & Leasing | 34,887 | 84,844 | 34,622 | 34,362 | 32,079 | -8.04% |
Professional & Technical Services |
53,294 | 52,685 | 55,607 | 55,858 | 58,887 | 10.49% |
Management of Companies & Enterprises | 31,441 | 32,637 | 38,358 | 42,903 | 43,720 | 39.05% |
Administrative & Waste Services |
23,095 | 22,440 | 24,502 | 26,525 | 26,110 | 13.05% |
Educational Services | 26,266 | 27,368 | 26,346 | 27,072 | 28,650 | 9.07% |
Health Care & Social Assistance |
33,681 | 34,843 | 36,373 | 37,463 | 38,858 | 15.37% |
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation | 24,910 | 24,981 | 25,414 | 28,172 | 27,681 | 11.12% |
Accommodation & Food Services |
15,476 | 16,078 | 16,326 | 17,038 | 17,733 | 14.58% |
Other Services, ex. Public Administration |
24,303 | 24,758 | 25,033 | 25,532 | 26,987 | 11.04% |
Non-Classifiables 2/ | 30,292 | 23,124 | 26,952 | * | 47,917 | 58.18% |
Total Government | 32,764 | 34,332 | 34,472 | 35,875 | 35,879 | 9.50% |
Federal | 46,526 | 47,994 | 49,257 | 53,069 | 54,665 | 17.49% |
State | 33,817 | 35,505 | 35,331 | 37,300 | 38,245 | 13.09% |
Local | 27,916 | 29,542 | 30,178 | 30,437 | 29,460 | 5.53% |
* Withheld to avoid disclosing confidential data. Data that are not disclosed for individual industries are always included in the totals. Therefore, the individual industries may not sum to the totals.
2/ Data by industry from 2001 forward are not generally comparable with industry data for prior years. Prior to 2001 industry categories are based on the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. This system was replaced with the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).