State Reports Nearly 2,800 New Mexicans Trained in Climate-Ready Jobs, Exceeding Targets

A statewide update published March 3, 2026 by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions reports 2,809 New Mexicans have completed climate-ready or infrastructure-aligned training and 2,931 total trainings were recorded, surpassing the statewide goal of 2,000 trainings by December 2026 set under Executive Order 2024-152.

The update says 61 participants received training in more than one category and that nearly half of all trainings occurred in infrastructure, specifically naming natural resources management, clean energy and construction as primary areas. The release also reports more than $14 million in combined funding invested in apprenticeships, industry-recognized credentials, energy-efficiency training and employer-driven upskilling programs.

State officials tied the results directly to the governor’s directive. NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair said, “This report shows the impact we can have when we collaborate closely to achieve a clearly defined goal. Since Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued Executive Order 2024-152, demand for New Mexicans to work in infrastructure, clean energy, and climate-ready industries has grown dramatically. These efforts are ensuring we have the people we need to deploy investments in infrastructure and energy, and to foster lasting careers that pay well all across the state.” Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham added, “Without a skilled workforce, we cannot repair our aging infrastructure, improve community resilience or carry out the clean energy transition our laws demand.”

The update highlights named programs used to reach the targets, including the Industry Credential Pipeline Program, a coordinated effort involving NMDWS, the New Mexico Department of Transportation and Central New Mexico Community College, and the Training for Residential Energy Contractors Program implemented with the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and Santa Fe Community College. NMDWS materials say those programs were part of cross-agency coordination required by Executive Order 2024-152, which called for a unified approach across 11 state agencies and offices.

According to the statewide update, NMDWS and partner agencies strengthened cross-agency coordination in 2025 to align training with employer demand across clean energy transportation, water infrastructure, construction and related sectors. The report states agencies plan in 2026 to embed climate-ready and infrastructure priorities into interagency agreements and workforce planning and to adopt a shared statewide definition of climate-ready and infrastructure job quality.

Gaps remain in the public data released March 3, 2026: the update does not break down the more than $14 million by program or funding source, does not list the full set of 11 agencies named in Executive Order 2024-152, and does not provide demographic, geographic or job-placement outcomes for the 2,809 individuals trained. NMDWS’s March 3, 2026 materials and the referenced 2025 Annual Report are the next documentary sources for county leaders seeking program-level detail and accountability as agencies move to deepen the collaborative model through 2026.