Las Cruces businesses now offering incentives to attract new workers for hire CNN A now hiring banner is displayed outside a Chipotle restaurant location. LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- With New Mexico's unemployment rate sitting right above 8%, businesses across Las Cruces are struggling to hire new employees. Dona Ana County's move to the Turquoise level on the state's pandemic reopening map allows restaurants to stay open later and add more capacity to their dining rooms. However, restaurants like Pecan Grill are struggling to hire kitchen staff in order to expand hours and meet client demands. A sign posted in front of the restaurant's building is offering a $100 sign-on bonus as an incentive prospective applicants. These incentives lead to the growing questions of how the labor market is doing as we see a turn in the pandemic. Extended federal unemployment benefits are set to expire in August in New Mexico.