Top 15 Hot Jobs in Rio Rancho NM

In early 2010, BusinessWeek announces the results of their quest to find the fastest-growing city in each of the 50 United States. In New Mexico, that city is Rio Rancho, a suburb north of Albuquerque (see the link for a review of that city and its employment trends). New Mexico overall is well liked by residents and tourists for its diverse cultural backgrounds, its national parks and other outdoor attractions, its climate, and its advanced in sustainability - notably green oil (from algae) and other developments.

Major universities, colleges, and vocational schools add to the attraction, as do business incentives and partnerships among business, education, and government to provide education-to-career opportunities as well as new jobs stemming from partnership new-business development and advances. Rio Rancho is also fun, because of features like the 10-hour Route 66 Tour nearby.

BusinessWeek reported that while the construction industry around Rio Rancho declined in 2008 and 2008 during the national recession, the city continued to grow in economy and population as a result of business developments at local companies like Hewlett Packard and Intel, which are specialists in Information Technology. This leant a boost to the growing film industry as well. 

Overall, the number of households in Rio Rancho in January 2010 stood at approximately 30,600, a nearly 60% increase over the number present a decade earlier in 2000. Since its small beginnings around 1960, the city has grown to a population of 82,000 at the end of 2009 (est., US Census Bureau). Average household income has increased significantly during that time as well.

You can see a map and certain data concerning each of the Top 50 Fastest Growing Cities at this link: http://www.businessweek.com.

Intel Corp. produces new technologies, well-paying jobs, and community services continually in a manner that boosts the growth of Rio Rancho and Albuquerque as well s the state overall. In addition, another local business, Hewlett Packard, was #14 on America's Fortune 500 list in early 2010, set to open open a cutting edge technical support/customer service center in Rio Rancho as well.

DreamWorks Animation in Rio Rancho uses the Intel Encanto Supercomputer to make 3-D films. They help make New Mexico the Hollywood of the Southwest. This DreamWorks-Intel commerical partnership is one of the first from the New Mexico Computing Applications Center. This center joined with the University of New Mexico, the New Mexico Department of IT, National LambdaRail, and Cerelink DMG in order to facilitate this deal. Insigniam Innovation Discovery Center also uses the Encanto, to simulate healthcare delivery models and create a number of new jobs in this vital field in 21^st Century healthcare change.

In early 2010, Encanto is the 12th fastest computer globally and the fastest private business computer overall. In 2009, Intel announced its $2.5 Billion in investments for enhancing the Rio Rancho plant to accommodate the manufacture of 32 nanometer chips - smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient. This is responsible for some of the job increase in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque: 1500 new contract jobs in 2009 – 2010.

IT is important to the daily Healthcare Industry, over and above the modeling systems mentioned above. It is used in daily patient record keeping, diagnostics, HR functions, and several other areas. With two new hospitals opening in 2010, Rio Rancho looks to further increase jobs in Healthcare and IT.

in 2010, the Rio Rancho job market is strong relative to the rest of America. During 2009 alone, job openings posted increased by 35% , while total US job listings decreased overall of 24%. Rio Rancho is creating jobs. Rio Rancho jobs increased by 101%(doubled) from June 2008 to December 1, 2009; with further Increases expected throughout 2010. This is linked to the expansion of local businesses DreamWorks, Intel, and Hewlett Packard, among others.

Job openings for 1^st Qtr 2010 include frequent positions in Education, Healthcare, and Information Technology. In addition to the IT business expansion mentioned at the head of this article, it is encouraging that two new full-service hospitals are opening in Rio Rancho in 2010.

1. Part-time Faculty at the University of New Mexico
2. Full-time Associate and Assistant Professors, U of NM
3. Physical Therapists
4. Office Assistants
5. Pharmacists
6. Occupational Therapists
7. Salespeople
8. Speech Language Pathologists
9. Sales Representatives – Inside and outside sales, including technologies and related items.
10. Registered Nurses (RNs)
11. Cashiers
12. Administrative Assistants
13. Pharmacy Technicians
14. Architects
15. Project Research Managers - IT

History and Culture

Closest to Albuquerque, Rio Rancho is also about an hour away from Santa Fee to the north by car, depending on traffic patterns and time of day. It is in the middle of historic Southwest history. Original inhabitants of New Mexico were the Anasazi Nation of Native Americans that met the Spanish explorer Coronado as he arrived in their territory in the 1500s. Many interesting stories, histories, and legends are preserved in historical societies and exhibits in and around Rio Rancho and Albuquerque concerning the interaction of the Anasazi and Europeans. A touch of magic flavors the resulting atmosphere.

Rio Rancho itself did not form until after 1960, established on the boundary of Albuquerque as a small suburb; but, once formed, it gradually grew and incorporated in 1981. The city government and the local Economic Development entity call it the City of Vision, because they intend to keep it growing. This includes highlighting cultural diversity, maintaining and developing infrastructure, welcoming new businesses, attracting new conventions to the Santa Ana Star Center, and increasing tourist traffic. Rio Rancho even boasts its own film studio, which is used increasingly frequently in professional filming. Many events occur in the area that interest visitors:

Hot Air Balloons

If you have ever been in a city that has hosted a hot air balloon festival, you know that the horizon filled with balloons at many heights in the early morning looks like an outer space colony or a visit from a delegation from elsewhere in the galaxy. The sight is enough to create wonder even in hard times.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is known globally and enjoyed by all ages from International cultures as well as our own. It occurs during the traditional time of many circuses, and state and county fairs in US history – October. The sight of balloons join the aromas of locally grown roasted chile peppers and the thrill of taking a balloon ride. In 2010, over 700 hot air balloons are scheduled for arrival. Rio Rancho is very close to the filed used by the festival and offers a number of high quality accommodations. No only individuals and families, but all a variety of groups and bus tours travel to Rio Rancho to enjoy the balloon festival.At least nine outfits with FAA-certified pilots offer balloon rides all year long.

Car Shows

Besides balloons, Rio Rancho/Albuquerque offers its Park 'N the Park classic car show every year, free of charge. The show features a number of activities and showcases automobiles, pickups, and other street-legal vehicles that were manufactured in 1980 and previously. The car show is a complete festival, with music, concessions, exhibits, clowns, raffles and prizes, and hundreds of cars from the oldest antiques to street rods and trucks.

Pork and Monster Truck Festival

Rio Rancho holds a yearly two-day Pork & Brew and Monster Truck Winter Nationals in March. The Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship is held at the pork festival next to the Winter Nationals and a variety of live entertainment and country-fair type activities.