Lack of workers impacts New Mexico

NEW MEXICO – The reopening caused by the Covid-19 pandemic begins to occur in several places in the United States, however, there are places where this process will be slower, because although there are enough sources of work, there is no workforce.

This is the case in New Mexico, where sectors such as hotels and the countryside are ready to start activities, but workers do not show up for work.

Regarding agriculture, New Mexico has a sector in its chile to obtain good economic resources and the last rains have helped this food to bear more and better fruits.

With an economic spill of approximately US $ 50 million in 2019 and a field in good condition, the characteristics are given for this to be a good year, but there is a lack of hands that can collect what we have in this 2021.

The executive director of the Chile Association of New Mexico, Joram Robbs, said that at this moment there is a deficit of 40 percent of workers and before this the producers fear that the chile will remain in the field.

In previous years there were an average of 30 employees, now the maximum average that can be counted is six, reported Glen Duggins, owner of Five Star Chile.

He said that last year 75 percent of the harvest was lost, because with a full staff of workers it was possible to collect up to 1,000 bags a day and now, in the best of cases there are 400.

In addition to the lack of workers, producers must also face the costs of seeds, fertilizers and other inputs, all of this to have a better quality chili, however, this has caused the price of food to increase by up to 20 percent.

This decision was made because they seek to have a better quality product so that consumers buy what is available in the region and do not have to buy them elsewhere or abroad.

Another area where there is also a lack of labor is the hotel sector, where there are vacancies, but job seekers do not arrive.

The New Mexico Business Coalition considers that the incentives given by the Federal Government are the culprits that people do not go to work centers.

The hiring opportunities are there, but who can cover them is not, because they have been taught to live through the aid granted by the Government.

Through its official website and Facebook account, the Heritage Hotel and Resort announces its vacancies, even to be more attractive, they offer economic bonuses to occupy their available positions.

Not having the necessary employees has meant that food and banquet operations are not carried out as they previously were, in some cases even the number of rooms in service have been reduced.