SANTA FÉ, N.M. A report by the Department of Workforce Solutions in New Mexico reveals how the industry has affected the job market.
The report states that by the end of 2022 more than 4,600 workers will have joined the cannabis industry in New Mexico. The majority of them (88.3%), worked in dispensaries.
The vast majority of cannabis businesses in the state are dispensaries. According to data from the worker unemployment insurance, there are more than 100 retail dispensers for every 10 cannabis producers and every 21 cannabis agricultural businesses.
The report states that New Mexico’s cannabis employees come from diverse backgrounds. Just under 40% of cannabis workers were from the industry. However, over a third had other occupations, including construction, mining and hospitality.
New Mexico’s cannabis industry is dominated by former restaurant workers, grocery store employees, and retail staff. The Department of Workforce Solutions says that some people now earn more money selling bud.
By the end of 2022, the average weekly cannabis-related wage for a group of individuals tracked by DWS was $560. Comparatively, foodservice and hospitality jobs paid an average of $474 per weekly. DWS reports that “for some people, cannabis is a more lucrative industry.”
