The health care sector in New Mexico continues to lead all others in job growth, according to state data released Monday.

Educational and health services employment grew almost 6 percent and added 6,900 jobs statewide from October 2010 to October 2011.

Those jobs helped stabilized the economy from big declines in other areas — especially government, which shed 4,500 jobs over the year.

The monthly report from the state Department of Workforce Solutions showed New Mexico's unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in October, unchanged from September but down from 8.6 percent a year ago and well below the national rate of 9 percent.

October was the third month the state unemployment rate held steady at 6.6 percent after dropping steadily during the first six months of the year.

But economists are quick to point out that the rate only measures those who report to Bureau of Labor Statistics surveyors that they are looking for work. Those who have found part-time jobs — or are so discouraged they are no longer looking — aren't counted as unemployed.

"People are dropping out of the labor force. You can speculate on what that means," said Jeff Mitchell, an economist with The University of New Mexico's Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

"My own personal interpretation is that things have been so bad for so long that they are waiting for something positive to happen before they go out and look for work.

"The irony is that the unemployment rate has effectively come down when they've given up."

Meanwhile, the Department of Workforce Solutions reports job growth in the state was 0.6 percent in October, which represents an increase of 5,000 jobs when compared with October 2010 — and ranks the state in the lower third of the United States during the period.

Since 2008, state officials say New Mexico has lost almost 53,000 jobs from effects of the national recession. October 2011 data indicate the state has regained about 9,000 jobs.

In Santa Fe County, the unemployment rate for October was 5.5 percent, unchanged from September 2011 but down from 7.2 percent a year ago.

The county had a net gain of 400 jobs from 2010, even while the government sector lost 400 jobs of its own, a decline of 2.4 percent with decreases in all three federal, state and local subcategories.

Santa Fe continued to see increases in the health care workforce as well as retail trade and leisure and hospitality.

Construction employment continued to tumble, contracting another 10 percent from a year ago. In 2007, there were 4,700 people working in construction in Santa Fe County. Last month there were 2,800.