Mexico's food and automotive sectors attract record nearshoring investment and jobs

The State of Mexico's food manufacturing industry is experiencing rapid expansion, with domestic firms investing 8.172 billion pesos and foreign capital exceeding 2 billion USD between September 2023 and May 2026. The sector now employs more than 146 000 workers across over 31 000 companies, and officials cite the region’s logistics and market proximity as key advantages.

In the north, Coahuila is becoming a hub for nearshoring, adding several foreign‑direct‑investment projects in auto parts and appliances. In the first quarter of 2025, four foreign auto‑parts projects totaled $76.2 million and created 2 350 formal jobs, while the broader Mexican economy recorded a historic $40.9 billion in FDI for the January–September 2025 period. The rapid hiring surge is stressing internal support functions, as HR and IT departments scramble to process thousands of onboarding tasks, a challenge highlighted by Deloitte’s 2025 Human Capital Trends report.

Both regions underscore the strategic importance of nearshoring for Mexico’s manufacturing base, driving sustained job growth while exposing operational bottlenecks that firms must address to maintain productivity.