Mexico IMMEX manufacturing employment declines for 32 consecutive months

Employment in Mexico's IMMEX manufacturing establishments fell by 0.19% annually in August 2026, marking 32 consecutive months of annual contractions according to INEGI data. While the total number of workers in IMMEX establishments remained relatively stable at approximately 3.17 million, manufacturing-specific employment saw a 0.3% annual decline.

The downturn is uneven across sectors. The garment manufacturing industry experienced the sharpest contraction, dropping 17.08% annually, marking 50 months of continuous decline. Furniture, mattress, and blind manufacturing also fell by 10.96%, while textile input manufacturing decreased by 7.86%.

In contrast to the manufacturing slump, the computer manufacturing sector showed resilience with a 6.87% increase in employment. Additionally, non-manufacturing establishments—including agriculture, commerce, and services—reported a 1.9% increase in employment.

Geographically, the IMMEX workforce is concentrated in several states, led by Nuevo León (13.8%), Chihuahua (12.1%), and Baja California (11.8%).