MLG’s early childcare claims are without evidence as NM’s workforce participation rate has plummeted since November 2025

In the Albuquerque Journal (today, May 6) Gov. Lujan Grisham is quoted as defending her unconstitutionally enacted “free” childcare program in the following ways:

“If we don’t build the workforce in the future and give parents real choices, you will not have a workforce in the future” She also claimed to be “as confident as you could be” that the courts will affirm the program’s legitimacy even though she created it w/o the Legislature back on November 1. While predicting actions of New Mexico’s courts is a challenging proposition the reality is that this case is clearly based on legitimate concerns over the process and the idea that the Gov. can create massive new government programs without legislative approval.

But what about the results of the program since November? We have a few months of data. Has New Mexico seen an influx into the workforce? Far from it. On November 1, 2025 when the program went into effect New Mexico’s workforce participation rate was 58.1. By March 2026 the rate had dropped significantly to 56.8. If this program is supposed to bring more workers (especially women who previously took care of children in the home) into the workforce it would seem that the rate should not plummet upon adoption of the program.

During the Gov.’s rollout AND legislative debate over “free” childcare there was NO evidence provided that the program would do anything to boost workforce participation in New Mexico let alone that this program was the most efficient way to boost New Mexico’s workforce. Low workforce participation IS a real problem in New Mexico, however as can be plainly seen in the chart below. Research for yourself here.

We’d rather see real reform to New Mexico’s tax structure, reform of the GRT and elimination of the income tax, but this Gov. and the Legislature believe New Mexico is JUST ONE MORE government program away from success. Sadly, even this limited workforce participation data seem to show otherwise.