# Mexico formal employment trends and regional shifts > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/mexico-formal-employment-trends-and-regional-shifts > Updated: 2026-08-24T16:27:13.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 3. Mexico’s formal labor market experienced fluctuations in mid-2026. In July, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) reported a monthly decline of 19,550 formal positions, a 0.1% decrease attributed to seasonal factors such as the agricultural cycle and the end of the school year. Despite this dip, the country added 243,078 formal jobs throughout the year. ManpowerGroup analysts noted that without the 17% of growth contributed by digital platform workers, the net loss in traditional formal employment would have been considerably more severe. Regional data shows significant variation. While Baja California and Oaxaca saw annual growth exceeding 5.5%, other areas faced setbacks. Campeche experienced the largest annual drop in formal employment at 7.3%, and Querétaro saw a monthly decline of 2,682 jobs. In Ciudad Juárez, the manufacturing sector led a monthly loss of 568 jobs. The State of Mexico lost 22,925 registered jobs between May and July 2026, with a sharp drop of 18,965 positions occurring between June and July. In contrast, Mexicali recorded 42,732 new formal jobs in July 2026 compared to the previous year, driven largely by the commerce and services sectors. This growth brought the city’s total registered workers to a historic high of 312,272. Additionally, the national average contribution salary reached a historic high of $673.9, while Mexicali maintained the highest average daily wage in Baja California at 768.06 pesos. To address economic challenges in Baja California—where over 9,600 companies closed at the end of 2025—legislative reforms have been proposed. These initiatives aim to transition support for MSMEs toward technical assistance and follow-up to improve business consolidation and job retention. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-24: Mexicali generates over 42,000 new formal jobs Mexicali saw a significant increase in formal employment, adding over 42,000 jobs in July 2026 compared to the previous year, driven largely by the commerce and services sectors. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexicali-generates-over-42000-new-formal-jobs ### 2026-08-11: Mexico labor market faces formal job losses in Edomex and Baja California Formal employment is facing challenges in Mexico, with the State of Mexico losing nearly 23,000 jobs while Baja California proposes legislative reforms to support MSMEs following significant business closures. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-labor-market-faces-formal-job-losses-in-edomex-and-baja-california ### 2026-08-11: Mexico formal employment falls in July 2026 Mexico's formal employment fell by 19,550 jobs in July 2026 due to seasonal factors, though digital platform workers helped offset losses in traditional sectors. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-reports-loss-of-19550-formal-jobs-in-july-2026 --- Cite as: Mexico formal employment trends and regional shifts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/mexico-formal-employment-trends-and-regional-shifts