Mexico labor market: 6.8 million seniors remain employed

In Mexico, approximately 6.8 million people aged 60 and older remain in the workforce as of the end of the second quarter of 2026. This represents nearly three out of every ten seniors. Among those aged 65 and older, one in four continues to work, with 77% of that group engaged in informal labor, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).

Economic necessity is a primary driver, as many pensions are insufficient to cover basic living costs, healthcare, and caregiving expenses. Data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) indicates that many seniors in the region lack pensions or receive amounts that fail to prevent poverty. In Mexico, this issue is most acute in the lowest income decile, where 81.3% of men and 86.5% of women receive insufficient pensions.