Mexico loses 251 billion pesos annually by excluding workers with disabilities

A study by the inclusion initiative Entrale and the Mexican Council of Business (CMN) estimates that Mexico forgoes about 251 billion pesos each year by keeping people with disabilities out of the labour market, a loss equivalent to roughly 0.8 % of the nation’s GDP. The analysis, based on INEGI data, shows that 0.73 million working‑age individuals with disabilities are not participating in formal employment, creating a 15‑point participation gap (56.4 % vs 71.8 % for those without disabilities). Even after controlling for education, age, gender and region, about 90 % of the gap cannot be explained by observable factors, indicating structural barriers and bias.

The financial impact exceeds the annual budget of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and is about half the budget allocated for the senior‑benefit program PEF 2025. The report notes that integrating disabled workers would raise tax revenues and stimulate domestic consumption. It also points to forthcoming IFRS S1 reporting requirements, which will obligate listed companies to disclose inclusion metrics from 2025 onward, and highlights the National Programme for Work and Employment of Persons with Disabilities 2026‑2030 as a policy response.