A surge in construction jobs continues in New Mexico thanks to the oil and gas industry, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Industry group Associated General Contractors of America said New Mexico added 4,300 construction jobs in one year from August 2018 to August 2019 to reach 51,000 construction jobs. The New Mexican said “nearly all the job growth in New Mexico is in support of the oil and gas boom in Lea and Eddy counties” and the cities of Hobbs and Carlsbad. Ten new hotels are under construction or planned in Carlsbad.
Chevron, XTO Energy and Occidental Petroleum are building new regional office buildings, and WPX Energy and Concho Resources already expanded in Carlsbad. Cactus Oilfield Services and Cudd Energy Services have built new offices recently in Lea County, and Devon Energy is renovating offices in Hobbs.