Mexico's employed population and formal jobs decline in first quarter of 2026

16 articles · Updated · MEXICONOW · Apr 27

Between January and March 2026, Mexico lost 227,155 employed people and 230,119 formal jobs, with the total employed population now at 60.15 million, according to INEGI.
Informal employment grew by just 2,964, marking the lowest job creation since records began in 2005, and the informality rate reached 54.8%.
Experts warn that continued informalization hampers productivity and economic growth, as formal jobs contribute more to GDP and require significant capital investment to generate value.

Why is Mexico shedding formal jobs despite record foreign investment?

Is Mexico's economy fundamentally trapped in a low-productivity cycle?

Can Mexico solve its labor crisis before the critical 2026 USMCA review?

Could digital transformation be the key to fixing Mexico's vast informal economy?

What will Donald Trump's trade demands mean for Mexican jobs?