State lawmakers form ‘jobs council’

SANTA FE — Lawmakers are creating a task force to consider how New Mexico can create more jobs in emerging and new industries.

The Legislative Council agreed Tuesday to establish a “jobs council” that will include legislative leaders as well as representatives of universities and the national laboratories in the state.

The group will meet during the next several months and issue a report later this year making recommendations to the Legislature.

House Speaker W. Ken Martinez and Senate President Mary Kay Papen sponsored a proposal in this year’s legislative session to create the council.

New Mexico lags behind most other states in the region in employment growth. New Mexico gained about 3,800 jobs in the past year ending in March — a growth rate of 0.5 percent.