New Mexico has the talent pool to succeed

Local businesses can do their part to develop needed employees from within the state

One of the themes I have heard thinkers and leaders in New Mexico talk about since coming home 11 years ago to New Mexico from New York is how the state doesn’t have the people talent to fill the high-paying jobs now available.

The same thing is heard over and over discussing the needs of companies moving to New Mexico (regarding) those high-paying jobs they would bring. When the reason is given why companies choose a neighboring state over New Mexico, the lack of talent pool is the reason given time and time again.

In the five and a half years since we’ve operated M’tucci’s Restaurants in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, our own hiring experience has been totally different than that.

In New York City where we operated 11 restaurants over 23 years, we employed 1,000 people. Our retention rate, especially for our industry, was high. Fifty percent of our employees were with us 10 years or more. I am still proud of that rate.

Here in Albuquerque, our five-year experience has shown us we will do better than in New York. Our state unemployment insurance rate is just .44 percent. In a recent conversation with a new payroll company, they were excited to tell us they could (make our rate even better).

Nearly none of the 14 people in upper management in our company had management experience before joining us. Through our own ongoing, in-house training-program, we have helped our local, home-grown talent become highly dedicated, skilled managers in our company. We’ve done this without outside programs or money, grants or state and local funding.

We’re not alone in this in New Mexico. There are tech companies doing the same thing: hiring locally and providing the employees the training and education to perform at the desired highest level.

I have known that our approach isn’t rocket science, and at some level I hope no one catches on because it’ll continue to give us the edge in finding talent here in New Mexico. But it’s not that difficult to find smart, aggressive, hungry prospective employees. And working with them the old-fashioned way, in effect, as our apprentices, they learn it all.

It’d be even better if there were some financial support for local initiatives. It’d be helpful, but we don’t need it. I know we’ll find, hire, train and retain the 30 management staff we’ll need over the next five years.

I know in New Mexico as employers, we already have the talent we need. As far as I am concerned, from a selfish point of view, it’s OK if we’re the only ones looking. It’ll give us first choice as we recruit here. But believe me, there’s enough talent to go around.

New Mexicans, let’s stop believing we do not have the talent pool. We do. Let’s work together to identify the talent, provide them the tools to thrive, and stop wondering where “they” are going to come from.