Last August, 1.3 million jobs were lost.

Clara Zepeda

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, September 30, 2025, p. 21

The Mexican labor market showed signs of weakness in August 2025, with the loss of 1,302,773 jobs compared to July, affected by the decline in informal employment and the anemic construction of formal employment, revealed data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).

According to the National Survey of Occupation and Employment (Enoe), conducted by INEGI, the country's employed population was estimated to have reached 59.5 million people in August 2025, representing the monthly loss of more than one million jobs, its worst indicator in this area since January 2022.

The National Employment Agency (ENOE) estimated that informal employment lost 1,499,900 jobs, totaling 32.6 million people in that situation by the end of August.

Formal employment rose to 26.9 million in August, 197,127 more jobs than in August 2025, when 26.7 million people were registered.

Thus, the informal employment rate stood at 54.8 percent in August of this year, down from 56.1 in July, while in August 2024 it was 54.3 percent. The unemployment rate stood at 2.9 percent, its second consecutive increase. In the same month in 2024, it was 3 percent.

By sector, in the tertiary sector, which includes commerce and services, 1,014,429 jobs disappeared in one month; in the primary sector, which includes agriculture, livestock, forestry, hunting, and fishing, 416,830 jobs were lost, while in the secondary sector, industry and construction, 185,439 jobs were created.

Women's employment suffered the brunt, losing 767,113 jobs, according to data from the National Employment Agency (ENOE), while men's employment fell by 535,660. The number of unemployed people in August 2025 increased by 63,352 compared to July of this year.

Annual behavior

The employed population reached 59.5 million people (97.1 percent of the economically active population, EAP), which represented an annual decrease of 201,000 people.

By sex, female employment was 24.3 million and male employment was 35.2 million, an annual increase of 41,000 for women and a decrease of 242,000 for men.

In the reference month, the unemployed population was 1.8 million, a year-over-year decrease of 73,000. Female unemployment stood at 834,000 in August 2024, and at 774,000 a month earlier. Male unemployment remained at 1 million in August 2024 and 2025.

"On the one hand, the unemployment rate reached its highest level in three months, while the labor force participation rate (58.76) decreased 1.3 percentage points compared to August 2024; together, these contribute to signs of slower employment growth," explained Rosa Rubio, economic analyst at Monex.

▲ Rome hosted the World Travel and Tourism Council meeting. Photo by Roberto González Amador

Roberto González Amador

Sent

La Jornada Newspaper, Tuesday, September 30, 2025, p. 21

Rome. Travel and tourism-related activity managed to reverse the impact of the 2020 pandemic. The recovery was not at the same pace in all regions, but it was present in each one. Mexico was no exception, with a rebound in both its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) and employment.

The data were presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which brings together companies in this industry, and which was opened by Italian President Giorgia Meloni, a conservative.

This year, tourism and travel will generate an activity valued at $11.7 trillion, equivalent to 10.3 percent of global GDP, said Mexican Gloria Guevara, interim president of the WTTC.

A significant part of the drive comes from China and India, the two most populous countries on the planet, with growing middle classes that have increased their purchasing power, explained Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Arabia's tourism minister, during the presentation of the report.

Compared to 2019, the year before the COVID pandemic, tourism's contribution to the global economy will have increased by $1.4 trillion this year, according to the Economic Impact of Travel and Tourism 2025 report. That amount is approximately 80 percent of Mexico's GDP.

The activity is set to grow at a sustained pace worldwide over the next decade. The WTTC report predicts that by 2035, this sector will generate $16.5 trillion, representing 11.5 percent of the projected global GDP.

The case of Mexico

This year, tourism will contribute $281 billion to Mexico's GDP, 15.1 percent of the national GDP. The report estimates that the year before the pandemic, the contribution was $14.7 billion. In a decade, the sector's contribution to the economy will reach $6.6 trillion pesos, approximately $6.6 billion and 16.2 percent of GDP, it adds.

"The activity will undoubtedly pick up," Guevara stated. He considered next year's World Cup—hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States—an opportunity to boost the sector. "I don't think the political issue will have any impact," he declared, referring to the tensions created by President Donald Trump and his tariff measures, which involve the two U.S. partners in North America, and security measures, which primarily affect our country.

He believed Mexico has time to be ready to host the 13 matches it has scheduled for the soccer competition, including the opening game at the Azteca Stadium. "There's still time, Mexico will be ready."

The earring

The travel and tourism sector must prepare to fill the jobs its dynamic demands, according to the report.

By 2025, the total number of jobs generated by the sector will be around 371 million. This represents an increase of 33.3 million jobs compared to before the pandemic and is equivalent to 10.3 percent of global employment, just three-tenths of a percentage point below the contribution in 2019.

"Due to the measures taken around the world to combat the pandemic, 70 million jobs were lost," Guevara said. There is a risk that these positions will not be filled, the document notes.

He explained that going forward, companies in the sector must improve their employees' skills and incorporate technology, such as artificial intelligence, but with the understanding that some tasks cannot replace the contact between the service provider and the user.

"The biggest challenge will be recruiting and retaining" workers. In Europe, the region with the most travelers, the rising average age of the population means hiring difficulties, in addition to immigration restrictions, he explained.