Oil and gas job cuts continue in NM

The oil and gas industry has been a bright spot in the New Mexico economy over the past few years. But with the price of oil staying low and showing no signs of improving, that may be changing. Albuquerque Business First reported that job cuts from the international conglomerate ConocoPhillips will include cuts in New […]

Oil and gas job cuts continue in NM

The oil and gas industry has been a bright spot in the New Mexico economy over the past few years.

Five year WTI crude oil prices from Bloomberg. Accessed 9/21/2015.
Five year WTI crude oil prices from Bloomberg. Accessed 9/21/2015.

But with the price of oil staying low and showing no signs of improving, that may be changing.

Albuquerque Business First reported that job cuts from the international conglomerate ConocoPhillips will include cuts in New Mexico. ConocoPhillips is the top gas producer in the state and one of the top oil producers in the state.

From Business First:

“I can confirm that our company has decided to reduce our workforce by 10 percent. Our industry is undergoing a downturn, which has caused us to look at our future workforce needs. As we assessed the implications of lower prices on our business, we made the difficult decision that workforce reductions are necessary. We are committed to treating all our employees with respect and fairness during this process,” [ConocoPhillips director of communications Jim Lowry] said. “At this time, the exact number of layoffs in New Mexico is not available because it is so soon after the decision. We’ll know more in the next several weeks as we work through our formal process.”

New Mexico’s rig count has been dropping in recent months; it stood at 99 in September of 2014 according to Baker Hughes. It now stands at 49.

New Mexico mining and logging employment, 2010-2015.
New Mexico mining and logging employment from Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2010-2015. Accessed 9/21/2015.

With these numbers it is no surprise that ConocoPhillips isn’t the first company to cut jobs in the state.

ConocoPhillips announced at the start of the month that it is cutting ten percent of its global workforce.

Federal Bureau of Labor and Statistics numbers show that employment in the mining and logging sector, which includes the oil and gas industry, peaked in November 2014 at 28,900 employers. Preliminary August 2015 numbers who 26,900, the lowest since December of 2013.

Department of Workforce Solutions numbers in New Mexico show similar numbers for the mining and logging industry; 27,000 in August of 2015.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Earlier this month, the New Mexico Supreme Court denied and dismissed the effort to challenge six laws enacted in 2023. The New Mexico Supreme…
Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Governor to call special session for public safety legislation this summer

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that she will call the Legislature into a special session this summer to address public safety legislation that did…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Federal agencies release operating plans for Rio Grande and Pecos River

Federal agencies release operating plans for Rio Grande and Pecos River

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers say that Elephant Butte Reservoir likely reached its peak elevation for the year…
How Albuquerque’s climate progress stacks up against other cities

How Albuquerque’s climate progress stacks up against other cities

A new report ranks Albuquerque second among mid-sized cities for actions taken to address climate change. The 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard released Tuesday…
NMED reaches record-high million settlement in gas flaring case

NMED reaches record-high million settlement in gas flaring case

A state agency reached a settlement agreement with an oil and gas company as New Mexico continues to crack down on air pollution from…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
Latest SCOTUS abortion case uncertain and could impact New Mexico

Latest SCOTUS abortion case uncertain and could impact New Mexico

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday on an abortion-related case, this time over whether an Idaho anti-abortion law preempts a federal…
Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

An abortion fund provider unveiled a rebrand and offered an open house in Las Cruces to celebrate the organization’s new name, mission and values. …
Stansbury introduces judicial ethics bill on U.S. Supreme Court steps

Stansbury introduces judicial ethics bill on U.S. Supreme Court steps

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury announced a bill on Thursday that would, if enacted, establish judicial ethics to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Judicial Ethics…
Latest SCOTUS abortion case uncertain and could impact New Mexico

Latest SCOTUS abortion case uncertain and could impact New Mexico

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday on an abortion-related case, this time over whether an Idaho anti-abortion law preempts a federal…
Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

Abortion fund provider rebrands and holds open house

An abortion fund provider unveiled a rebrand and offered an open house in Las Cruces to celebrate the organization’s new name, mission and values. …
Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

Politics and abortion, how much will it matter?

At the national level, abortion is still a high-stakes issue with both major presidential candidates talking about it in their campaigns, but it may…
Progressives going after incumbents in hot Democratic primaries

Progressives going after incumbents in hot Democratic primaries

By Justin Horwath, NM In Depth It’s a safe bet Democrats will barrel into 2025 with their supremacy intact at the New Mexico Legislature.…
Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Effort to challenge six laws enacted last year comes to an end

Earlier this month, the New Mexico Supreme Court denied and dismissed the effort to challenge six laws enacted in 2023. The New Mexico Supreme…
Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

Vasquez calls out Republicans for ‘inaction’ on border policy

U.S. Rep. Gabriel “Gabe” Vasquez, a Democrat who represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District along the U.S.-Mexico border, cosponsored a resolution on Monday calling…
NMED reaches record-high million settlement in gas flaring case

NMED reaches record-high million settlement in gas flaring case

A state agency reached a settlement agreement with an oil and gas company as New Mexico continues to crack down on air pollution from…
Vasquez hears concerns from Tribal leaders 

Vasquez hears concerns from Tribal leaders 

U.S. Rep. Gabriel “Gabe” Vasquez pledged his support for Native people and their issues during a  listening session Friday at the Indian Pueblo Cultural…
Granholm says Inflation Reduction Act expanded manufacturing in America, New Mexico

Granholm says Inflation Reduction Act expanded manufacturing in America, New Mexico

Jennifer Granholm, the secretary of the Department of Energy, spoke about how the federal Inflation Reduction Act has created jobs and led to business…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report