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    • Resources and Major Employers in Taos County (50+ Employees)

      CommunityFun FactsChamberEconomicGeneral News Article

      RESOURCE LINKS: 

      New Mexico Workforce Connection
      http://www.jobs.state.nm.us

      New Mexico State Personnel Office
      http://www.spo.state.nm.us

      New Mexico State Police Training
      http://www.nmsp.com/recruiting.shtml

      Taos County Chamber of Commerce Job Posting
      http://chambermaster.taoschamber.org/jobs/

      Taos Ski Valley
      Jobs | Taos Ski Valley (skitaos.com)

      The Albuquerque Journal
      http://www.abqjournal.com/

      The Taos News
      http://www.mytaosjobs.com

      United States Department of Labor
      http://www.dol.gov/

      United States Office of Personnel Management
      http://www.usajobs.com

      Workforce Solutions
      http://www.dws.state.nm.us

      NM Workforce - New Mexico EDD

      TAOS COUNY, NM - Census Bureau Profiles Results

      Publications/Reports - New Mexico EDD

      County Economic Summaries & Data Profiles New Mexico County Map - New Mexico EDD

      January 2026 Economic Summary - Taos.docx

      Major Employers in Taos County (50+ Employees)

      Education (Largest Sector)

      Schools and education institutions represent one of the largest employment sectors in the county.

      Key employers include:

      • Taos Municipal School District

      • Taos High School

      • Taos Middle School

      • Taos Elementary School

      • Ranchos Elementary School

      • Mesa Vista Middle High School

      • Questa School

      • Peñasco High School

      • Ojo Caliente Elementary School

      • University of New Mexico–Taos

      Estimated employee ranges:

      • 50 – 499 employees per institution

      Economic insight:
      Education is one of the largest public-sector employers in Taos County, supporting hundreds of jobs.

      Government & Public Administration

      Major public employers include:

      • Taos County Government

      • Taos Pueblo administration

      • Town of Taos licensing and regulatory offices

      Employee range:

      • 100–249 employees

      Public sector employment is a major economic driver in rural counties like Taos.

      Healthcare & Social Services

      Key healthcare-related employers:

      • Holy Cross Hospital Diabetes Clinic

      • Teambuilders Behavioral Health

      • Vista Linda Rehabilitation

      • Taos Living Center (nursing care)

      Employee ranges:

      • 50–249 employees

      Economic insight:
      Healthcare and social services are one of the fastest-growing sectors in New Mexico and a stable source of employment locally.

      Tourism, Hospitality & Recreation

      Tourism remains one of the most important private-sector industries in Taos County.

      Major employers include:

      • Taos Mountain Casino

      • Doc Martin's

      • Texas Reds Steakhouse & Saloon

      • Sagebrush Inn & Suites

      • Historic Taos Inn

      • Quality Inn

      • The Blake Hotel

      • Red River Ski Area

      • Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa

      Employee ranges:

      • 50–249 employees

      Economic insight:
      Tourism and recreation drive lodging, restaurant, and seasonal employment across Taos County and surrounding communities.

      Retail & Consumer Services

      Large retail employers include:

      • Walmart Supercenter

      • Albertsons Market

      • Smith's Food and Drug

      • Cid's Food Market

      • Rio Grande Ace Hardware

      • Super Save Discount Foods

      Employee ranges:

      • 50–249 employees

      Retail is a major consumer employment sector serving residents and visitors.

      Finance & Construction

      Other notable employers include:

      • Centinel Bank of Taos

      • Northern Mountain Constructors (road construction)

      Employee ranges:

      • 50–99 employees

      These businesses contribute to financial services and infrastructure development in the region.

      Snapshot of Taos County Major Employer Sectors

      Approximate distribution from the dataset:

      Sector Examples Employment Range
      Education Schools, UNM–Taos 50–499
      Government County, Pueblo, Town 100–249
      Healthcare Clinics, nursing facilities 50–249
      Tourism & Hospitality Hotels, casino, restaurants, ski resorts 50–249
      Retail Walmart, grocery stores, hardware 50–249
      Finance & Construction Bank, contractors 50–99

      Key Takeaways for Economic Development Reports

      For reporting to Taos County Economic Development (TCED):

      • Education and government are major stable employers
      • Tourism and hospitality are key private-sector drivers
      • Retail supports both local residents and visitor economy
      • Healthcare is a growing employment sector statewide

      Based on the 2023 Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data shared for Taos County, the county’s economy shows a strong concentration in tourism, service industries, health care, retail, and public sector employment. Below is a clear economic indicator summary for 2025–2026 planning reports (useful for the Taos County Chamber of Commerce and community partners).

      Taos County, NM Economic Indicators (2025–2026)

      Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)

      Overall Economy

      • Total Businesses (Establishments): 1,435

      • Total Average Employment: 10,870 jobs

      This confirms that Taos County is a small but diversified rural economy, with employment concentrated in tourism, healthcare, retail, education, and government services.

      Largest Employment Sectors

      1. Accommodation & Food Services (Tourism)

      • Businesses: 153

      • Jobs: 1,989

      Key components:

      • Accommodation: 685 jobs

      • Restaurants & drinking places: 1,304 jobs

      Indicator:
      Tourism remains the largest private sector employer and a major driver of the visitor economy.

      2. Health Care & Social Assistance

      • Businesses: 185

      • Jobs: 1,883

      Breakdown:

      • Ambulatory healthcare: 578 jobs

      • Social assistance: 790 jobs

      Indicator:
      Healthcare is the second largest employment sector, reflecting both regional healthcare needs and aging population trends.

      3. Retail Trade

      • Businesses: 190

      • Jobs: 1,542

      Major retail categories:

      • Food & beverage stores: 501 jobs

      • General merchandise: 223 jobs

      • Specialty retail: 334 jobs

      Indicator:
      Retail supports both local residents and tourism spending.

      4. Education

      • Businesses: 47

      • Jobs: 896

      Indicator:
      Education employment includes schools and training institutions that support workforce development.

      5. Public Administration

      • Businesses: 46

      • Jobs: 890

      Includes:

      • Government administration

      • Justice and public safety

      Indicator:
      Government remains a major stable employer in rural economies.

      6. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation

      • Businesses: 47

      • Jobs: 925

      Breakdown:

      • Recreation industries: 844 jobs

      Indicator:
      This reflects Taos’ identity as an arts, culture, and outdoor recreation destination.

      Other Key Economic Sectors

      Industry Businesses Jobs
      Construction 148 668
      Professional & Technical Services 149 285
      Administrative & Support Services 75 360
      Real Estate & Rental 73 217
      Finance & Insurance 49 195
      Information & Media 47 114
      Manufacturing 32 153
      Transportation & Warehousing 31 114

      Small Business Economy

      Taos County has a high percentage of small businesses.

      Indicators:

      • Most sectors consist of micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees.

      • Strong presence of entrepreneurs, artisans, and independent service providers.

      This aligns with the Chamber’s role in business support, networking, and economic development.

      Tourism & Visitor Economy Indicators

      Tourism-related industries include:

      Tourism Industry Jobs
      Accommodation & Food Services 1,989
      Arts, Entertainment & Recreation 925
      Retail Trade 1,542

      Total tourism-related employment:
      ~4,400 jobs (approx.)

      This means roughly 40% of the county workforce is tied to the visitor economy.

      Key Economic Insights for 2025–2026

      1. Tourism remains the primary economic driver
      Events, outdoor recreation, arts, and hospitality support thousands of jobs.

      2. Healthcare is rapidly becoming a major employment sector
      Growth reflects regional healthcare demand and service expansion.

      3. Small businesses dominate the economy
      Many industries consist of small firms and self-employed entrepreneurs.

      4. Construction and housing development remain active
      Driven by population shifts and housing demand.

      5. Arts, culture, and recreation are major economic assets
      These industries are key to both tourism and quality of life.

      Why This Data Matters for Community Programs

      For organizations like the Taos County Chamber of Commerce, these indicators support:

      • Economic development planning

      • Tourism promotion initiatives

      • Workforce development

      • Small business support programs

      • Community events like Taos Plaza Live

        Small Business Economy

        Taos County has a high percentage of small businesses.

        Indicators:

        • Most sectors consist of micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees.

        • Strong presence of entrepreneurs, artisans, and independent service providers.

        This aligns with the Chamber’s role in business support, networking, and economic development.

        Tourism & Visitor Economy Indicators

        Tourism-related industries include:

        Tourism Industry Jobs
        Accommodation & Food Services 1,989
        Arts, Entertainment & Recreation 925
        Retail Trade 1,542

        Total tourism-related employment:
        ~4,400 jobs (approx.)

        This means roughly 40% of the county workforce is tied to the visitor economy.

        Key Economic Insights for 2025–2026

        1. Tourism remains the primary economic driver
        Events, outdoor recreation, arts, and hospitality support thousands of jobs.

        2. Healthcare is rapidly becoming a major employment sector
        Growth reflects regional healthcare demand and service expansion.

        3. Small businesses dominate the economy
        Many industries consist of small firms and self-employed entrepreneurs.

        4. Construction and housing development remain active
        Driven by population shifts and housing demand.

        5. Arts, culture, and recreation are major economic assets
        These industries are key to both tourism and quality of life.

        Why This Data Matters for Community Programs

        For organizations like the Taos County Chamber of Commerce, these indicators support:

        • Economic development planning

        • Tourism promotion initiatives

        • Workforce development

        • Small business support programs

        • Community events like Taos Plaza Live

         

         

        Visitor Economy Impact Summary

        Taos County, New Mexico

        Tourism and the visitor economy are among the most significant drivers of economic activity in Taos County. Visitor spending supports local businesses, creates jobs, generates tax revenue, and helps sustain community services and cultural assets.

        Regional Tourism Impact

        Across New Mexico, tourism continues to reach record levels.

        • $8.8 billion in direct visitor spending statewide (2024)

        • $12 billion total economic impact including indirect effects

        • 42.6 million visitors traveled to New Mexico in 2024

        • 95,000+ jobs supported by tourism statewide

        • $839 million generated in state and local taxes

        Visitor spending benefits multiple sectors including:

        • Lodging

        • Restaurants and food services

        • Retail shopping

        • Arts, recreation, and cultural attractions

        Taos County Visitor Economy

        Tourism is one of the largest economic engines in Taos County.

        Key tourism-related sectors include:

        Industry Jobs
        Accommodation & Food Services 1,989
        Arts, Entertainment & Recreation 925
        Retail Trade 1,542

        These industries together support over 4,400 jobs, representing a large share of the county workforce.

        Local Economic Impact

        Tourism plays a major role in the local economy of Taos.

        Key indicators:

        • ~2,600 tourism-related jobs in the Town of Taos alone

        • Tourism employment represents about 28.5% of the local workforce

        • Tourism generates over $80 million in labor income annually

        • Visitor activity produces over $22 million in state and local tax revenue for public services and infrastructure

        Visitor spending in the Town of Taos grew from:

        • $229 million → $288 million prior to the pandemic
          showing steady growth in the visitor economy.

        Community & Small Business Impact

        Tourism directly supports local entrepreneurs and small businesses.

        Studies show:

        • 79% of local businesses say tourism supports their business

        • Nearly half of Taos businesses rely on tourism for 60% or more of their revenue

        Visitor spending supports:

        • Local restaurants

        • Retail shops and galleries

        • Lodging and hospitality

        • Outdoor recreation

        • Cultural and arts organizations

        Tourism’s Role in Rural Economic Development

        Tourism provides several key benefits for rural communities like Taos:

        Economic diversification

        • Supports hundreds of small businesses

        Job creation

        • Creates employment in hospitality, recreation, retail, and arts

        Public revenue

        • Lodgers’ tax and visitor spending support local government services

        Cultural preservation

        • Sustains arts, heritage, and cultural institutions that attract visitors

        Strategic Importance for Taos

        Tourism strengthens the local economy through:

        • Festivals and community events

        • Outdoor recreation and skiing

        • Arts and cultural tourism

        • Local restaurants and hospitality businesses

        • Heritage and historic sites

        Community events and programming—such as concerts, cultural festivals, and downtown activations—help attract visitors, increase overnight stays, and support local businesses.

      Resources and Major Employers in Taos...