The problem in northern New Mexico is that the environmental radicals in Santa Fe and nationally have shut down opportunities for natural resource extraction including lumbering, mining and oil and gas. What has resulted is a complete welfare mentality made worse by loss of government defense jobs.
In southern New Mexico, especially SE NM, potash mining and oil and gas drilling and production has resulted in many jobs for Hispanics, some lower wage (restaurants) but many middle wage for service companies or upper wage for production and pipeline supervisors. The latter require education and skills but are increasingly being filled by qualified Hispanics.
You’re right.
But San Juan County (Farmington) has fared pretty well.