Racial & Ethnic Equity Publications
The State of Working New Mexico 2014
Report The share of teens and young adults in the workforce has declined over the past two decades in New Mexico. Even though other mountain states and the U.S. as a whole are seeing these same trends, New Mexico has some of the lowest labor force participation rates, unemployment rates, and employment-to-population ratios for this demographic. (State- and regional-level data on employment and workforce demographics disaggregated by several criteria, including by race and ethnicity)
Child Well-Being in New Mexico
Presentation Given by Veronica C. Garcia, Ed.D., at a roundtable discussion hosted by U.S. Senator Tom Udall, this looks at data on child well-being in New Mexico as presented in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2013 national KIDS COUNT Data Book and their 2014 Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for all Children policy brief. (State- and national-level data on the indicators of child well-being, including data by race and ethnicity)
New Mexico’s Wage Race to the Bottom
Report New Mexico tops the nation in the rate of working families who are low-income and in income inequality. Raising the minimum wage and indexing it to inflation would be a step toward reversing these trends - and it would provide an economic boost. (State-level data on selected demographics of low-wage workers)
Native American Children and Families in New Mexico: Strengths and Challenges
Report This special KIDS COUNT report looks at economic indicators and social conditions in New Mexico’s 22 tribal communities - including the high rate of Native children who can speak a language in addition to English. (Tribal-level data on indicators of child well-being.)
Mind the Gap: Unemployment, Income, and Earnings for Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites in and Before the Great Recession
Report While the income and unemployment gap between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites had been closing in the three years leading up to the stock market crash, those gains were all lost in the resulting recession. This report looks at why Hispanics were harder hit by the downturn. (State-level data on employment and earnings by race and ethnicity)
Immigration Matters in New Mexico: How KIDS COUNT
Brief and Report This special KIDS COUNT brief and report look at the unique challenges immigrant children face as well as the strengths their families bring to this country. Includes stories by immigrants about their experiences. Two community briefs offer shorter, more ‘user-friendly’ versions - one in Spanish. (State-level data on nativity and immigration status of the population, as well as various indicators of child well-being.)
Analysis: Voter Photo ID Laws are Costly
Policy Brief Implementing a photo ID requirement for voters could cost New Mexico $3.5 million over three years. Because investigations by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office have found very little in the way of voter fraud, such legislation is more likely an attempt at voter suppression. (State-level data on the cost of implementing voter ID requirements.)
Indexing the State Minimum Wage to Inflation
Policy Brief New Mexico’s minimum wage, $7.50 an hour, has already lost value in the few years since it was raised. A full-time minimum wage employee has lost on average $1,000 a year due to inflation. (State-level data on inflation-adjusted minimum wage, characteristics of workers who would benefit from an increase.)
2011 KIDS COUNT in New Mexico
NM KIDS COUNT Data Book The continuing Great Recession has thrown more of New Mexico’s children and families into poverty. This annual report looks at the well-being of the state’s children on indicators such as poverty, education, health, and more. (State-, county- and school district-level data on various indicators of child well-being.)
Making Sure All KIDS COUNT: The Earlier the Better
Report New Mexico’s home visiting/parent coaching programs dramatically improve outcomes for the children and families they serve. Unfortunately, only a tiny percentage of families can take advantage of these important programs and the areas of the state with the greatest needs often have the fewest programs. (County-level data on child-raising vulnerability factors and population by race and ethnicity.)