New research from the American Immigration Council shows that immigrants in New Mexico made up over 9.9 percent of the state’s healthcare workers despite accounting for only 9.1 percent of the population. The new report, The Growing Demand for Healthcare Workers in New Mexico, highlights the contributions that immigrants make in high-demand healthcare occupations that require a professional or occupational license.
Amid rising labor shortages, New Mexico is facing increased demand for healthcare workers that international medical graduates (IMGs) and other internationally trained healthcare workers can help meet. For New Mexico to remain competitive and address critical shortages of physicians and other healthcare workers, the state must implement policies that not only attract and retain immigrant talent that is complementary to the U.S.-born workforce, but also build career pathways for immigrants who already call the state home.
- There is growing demand for healthcare workers in New Mexico. Between 2019 and 2023, online job postings increased by 222.4 percent for oral hygienists, 144.4 percent for licensed practical nurses, and 111.8 percent for OBGYNs.
- Immigrants are already helping New Mexico meet its demand for healthcare workers. In 2022, immigrants made up 9.9 percent of healthcare workers and 15.4 percent of physicians and surgeons in the state.
- Immigrants are helping meet growing demand for nurses across the state. From 2019 to 2023, demand for registered nurses increased by 96.7 percent in New Mexico. In 2022, immigrants made up 9.5 percent of registered nurses in the state.
