ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Sandia National Labs significantly contributed to New Mexico’s economy last year with a record $5.2 billion impact.
Laura McGill, appointed as lab director last May, highlighted the number during a press conference on Friday. She emphasized Sandia’s role in supporting wages, suppliers, construction projects and small businesses.
“So you can see Sandia plays a meaningful role in the state’s overall economic health,” said McGill.
The majority of the impact came from labor and payments to contractors and subcontractors.
McGill said they paid $144 million in gross receipt taxes to the state, an increase of $11.3 million from the previous year.
Sandia employs about 16,000 people, making it one of the largest employers in Albuquerque and New Mexico. McGill highlighted their efforts to attract highly skilled professionals with competitive compensation packages.
She also addressed workforce reductions last year, explaining they were necessary for long-term sustainability and largely achieved through voluntary measures and normal attrition.