According to the Pew Center on the States, New Mexico is one of 18 US states to ave lost population from July 2021 to July 2022. This is not a surprise as New Mexico has been plagued by slow population growth for years. And, while New Mexico’s percentage population loss wasn’t “that” bad, it is worse than a lot of “rust belt” states and light years behind its neighbors, all of which are among the fastest growing.
But, it is the kind of situation that should NOT be happening in a state undergoing a boom in its biggest industry (oil and gas).
Furthermore according to Pew while New Mexico gained population between 2010 and 2020 its annual growth rate was anemic, especially compared with its neighbors.
Directly quoting from Pew:
Fast-growing populations typically translate to strong labor force growth, which fuels economic activity and helps states generate tax revenue to fund any increased spending, such as for education or infrastructure. But on the other hand, a shrinking or slow-growing population can be both a cause and an effect of weakened economic prospects. Less economic activity can limit state revenue collections. And although a smaller population can lead to a reduction in some types of spending, it also means there are fewer residents to help cover the costs of long-standing commitments, such as debt and state employee retirement benefits.
It’s all about pushing the narrative that there are too many free things for the poor and not enough tax breaks for the rich. And that explains everything. 19 US states lost population. That’s 38%. There are 7 or 8 red states. And a majority of states gained less than 1%. Some of your conclusions, a mile wide and an inch deep