Los Alamos Laboratory Contributes $3 Billion a Year to the State’s Economy

An independent economic impact analysis has found that Los Alamos National Laboratory is responsible for creating 24,169 jobs in New Mexico while contributing $3.1 billion a year—much of it in out-of-state dollars—to the New Mexico economy.

The Economic Impact of Los Alamos National Laboratory report, developed by the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER), found that the Laboratory’s economic engine “brings out-of-state dollars into New Mexico, provides moderate to high-wage jobs to New Mexicans, supports New Mexico businesses and contributes to state and local tax revenues.” 

Key findings from the report:

• The Laboratory is responsible for creating 24,169 New Mexico jobs through direct, indirect and induced activities. That number nearly equals the employment in the state’s manufacturing sector.
• In FY 2017 the Laboratory supported the direct employment of 11,882 persons at an average salary of $112,386 per employee. The direct expenditures of its employees and vendors created an additional 9,415 jobs.
• The Laboratory’s average annual total impact on economic output across New Mexico from 2016 to 2018 was $3.1 billion. That figure includes direct spending in annual payroll of $1.46 billion, purchases of $338.2 million in goods and services from New Mexico businesses, and $45.2 million in construction expenditures. An additional $1.21 billion in indirect spending came from the Laboratory’s employees and vendors.
• The Laboratory’s economic impact on the seven counties surrounding the Lab in total is equal to 15 percent of their total gross domestic product.

> Download the full report here 

Small business procurement

Note: The data have been derived from the Laboratory’s financial system for payments made in fiscal year 2019 (October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019), unless otherwise noted.

Payments made to suppliers as a result of Laboratory procurements help drive economic growth in New Mexico and the nation.

Learn more about doing business with the Laboratory »

Economic development

The Laboratory invests and partners in economic development initiatives and programs that help stimulate business growth, create jobs, and strengthen our communities.

Learn more about the Laboratory's economic development efforts »

Surveys, conducted by a third-party contractor, were performed with participating clients in each program six months to one year after project completion. This information is based on CY 2018 data.

Technical Assistance

The New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program (NMSBA) assists for-profit small businesses in New Mexico with access to subject matter experts and cutting-edge technologies at Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories.

The NMSBA and other economic development programs are administered through the Laboratory's Richard P. Feynman Center for Innovation. Learn more: partner with the Lab, license a technology, or innovate locally »

* Surveys, conducted by a third-party contractor, were performed with participating clients in each program six months to one year after project completion. This information is based on CY 2018 data.

Employment

Los Alamos National Laboratory is a workplace that attracts, inspires, and develops world-class talent to ensure a vital future workplace. Learn more about our community partnerships | our business and industry partnerships | general facts, figures »