The Regional Picture

Understanding Our
Strengths and Challenges.

The following SWOT analysis summarizes the key internal and external factors shaping the economic future of Southeastern New Mexico. Drawing on demographic trends, workforce data, industry cluster analysis conducted with Purdue University, and stakeholder engagement across the five-county region, this assessment identifies the assets that position the region for growth as well as the structural challenges that must be addressed.

Southeastern New Mexico possesses globally significant economic drivers, including energy production in the Permian Basin, agricultural exports, defense and aerospace infrastructure, and a growing network of higher education and workforce institutions. At the same time, the region faces pressures common to many rural economies: workforce shortages, infrastructure constraints, housing availability, and vulnerability to global commodity cycles.

Understanding these dynamics allows regional leaders to move beyond reactive planning toward proactive economic stewardship. The insights captured in this SWOT provide the strategic foundation for the goals, priorities, and implementation strategies outlined in the following section of this Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

Four Perspectives. One Regional Strategy.

SWOT Analysis Overview

Strengths

What we can build on

Southeastern New Mexico is a high-output regional economy anchored by nationally significant energy production and reinforced by defense, aerospace, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, and education. Strategic transportation corridors, a skilled industrial workforce, and an established regional governance structure provide the capacity to operate at scale and coordinate action across jurisdictions.

  • Energy & production
  • Connected industries
  • Regional coordination
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Weaknesses

Where capacity falls short

The region’s ability to sustain growth is constrained by workforce shortages, housing availability and affordability challenges, uneven broadband access, healthcare capacity limitations, and infrastructure strain. These system-level gaps reinforce one another and reduce the region’s ability to fully capture economic opportunity.

  • Workforce
  • Housing & healthcare
  • Infrastructure gaps
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Opportunities

Where collective action can help

Existing strengths create opportunities to stabilize and diversify the regional economy through coordinated reinvestment, broadband modernization, workforce system alignment, market-responsive housing strategies, and strengthened regional collaboration. These opportunities are achievable through collective action and targeted planning.

  • Reinvestment
  • Modernization
  • Regional collaboration
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Threats

What we need to prepare for

External pressures, including commodity market volatility, environmental and water constraints, climate-driven hazards, competition for skilled labor, and infrastructure funding uncertainty, pose ongoing risks to economic stability. Proactive, regionally coordinated planning is essential to mitigate disruption and protect long-term competitiveness.

  • Commodity cycles
  • Water & natural hazards
  • Competition for talent
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Insights to Action

Put the Regional Picture to Work.

Connect the SWOT findings to six strategic priorities, project readiness, local leadership, and measurable progress.

Explore Insights to Action →