The Mexican manufacturing industry had a mixed performance during the first month of 2026 in terms of production, according to the results of the Monthly Survey of the Manufacturing Industry (EMIM), prepared by the  National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) .

In January 2026, the physical volume of manufacturing production registered a decline of 1.8% compared to December 2025 , while at an annual rate it reported an increase of 0.1 percent.

According to Inegi, the  number of people employed in the manufacturing industry increased 0.2% month-on-month in the first month of this year.

By type of  contract , non-dependent personnel – who are hired and provided by another company and for fees or commissions without a fixed salary or wage – increased by 2.4%, while dependent personnel of the company rose by 0.1% monthly.

On a monthly basis, in January, the hours worked by employed personnel fell by 0.4%, while average real wages paid , that is, salaries, wages and social benefits, fell by 0.3% compared to December 2025.

In its annual measurement, employment fell by 2.5 percent. Hours worked in the manufacturing industry decreased by 2.6 percent, and wages registered an annual increase of 3.3 percent.

By subsector, the  manufacture of petroleum and coal products saw the largest increase in production, with a 15% year-on-year growth rate. This was followed by the manufacture of computer, communication, measurement, and other electronic equipment, components, and accessories , with a 5.1% annual increase.

Conversely, one of the subsectors that registered one of the largest drops in the period was the manufacture of transport equipment , with a decline of 6.2% annually.

The Monthly Survey of the Manufacturing Industry shows the current economic behavior of the main variables of the country’s manufacturing sector, which has remained resilient in the face of the current global context, framed by constant trade changes.

According to an analysis by  Grupo Financiero Ve por Más (BX+) , although Mexican industrial activity has shown imbalance, “it will possibly remain somewhat sluggish during the rest of the first quarter of 2026, although it will subsequently regain some traction.”

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In the third quarter of 2025 (3Q25), Mexico’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) totaled  35.2 trillion pesos, representing a growth of 4.1% compared to the same period in 2024, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) announced this Thursday .

During the reference period, the  remuneration of salaried workers , by the income method, was the component that registered the greatest increase among productive agents, with an increase of 9.9% at an annual rate and an amount of 11 trillion pesos, which meant a participation of 31.4% of GDP.

According to the agency, the  gross operating surplus , that is, business profits, represented 39.6% of GDP in Q3 2025, with an annual growth of just 0.8 percent.

Gross mixed income ,  related to self-employed workers and small businesses, had a share of 21.6% of GDP in the comparison cycle, with a slight rebound at an annual rate of 0.4 percent.

Meanwhile, final consumption , measured by the expenditure method, was the component that sustained domestic demand with 29.3 trillion pesos, representing 83.3% of GDP in Q3 2025, and an annual growth of 4.6 percent.

Exports reached 13.6 trillion pesos during the period, representing 38.6% of GDP and a 6% increase compared to the third quarter of 2024 (3Q24), reflecting greater dynamism in Mexican foreign trade. Imports grew  5.9 % year-on-year, contributing 40.6% to GDP.

Meanwhile, gross fixed capital formation –investments in infrastructure, machinery and equipment– totaled 7.7 trillion pesos in the third quarter of 2025, although it registered a 4.9% drop compared to Q3 2024. This component accounted for 22% of GDP.

The quarterly Gross Domestic Product results, calculated using the income and expenditure approach , reflect the strength of domestic consumption , which is one of the driving forces of the Mexican economy.

According to estimates from BBVA Research , a moderate start to private spending is expected in 2026 , although a gradual recovery in consumption could be observed during the course of the year, “as the real wage bill strengthens and uncertainty related to US trade policies decreases.”

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The increase in the minimum wage that came into effect on January 1, 2026, represents progress for the purchasing power of workers; however, its impact must be analyzed with a regional perspective, particularly in the Northern Border Free Zone, where economic conditions differ from the rest of the country, warned Alfredo Valadez García, a researcher at the School of Administration and Business of CETYS University , Tijuana Campus.

Nationally, the minimum wage increased from 278.80 to 315.04 pesos per day, while in the border region it rose from 419.88 to 440.87 pesos per day, equivalent to just over 13,000 pesos per month. Although the adjustment in the border region was smaller in percentage terms, the expert pointed out that it should be interpreted in light of the socioeconomic context of states like Baja California, where extreme poverty levels are below the national average.

“The public debate often focuses on whether raising the minimum wage generates inflation, but recent evidence shows that the effects on prices have been marginal. The real challenge now is the sustainability of this policy in regions with high international integration, such as the northern border,” explained Valadez García.

The academic noted that, since 2018, the minimum wage in Mexico has registered real growth exceeding 100% without triggering an inflationary spiral , and has also contributed to poverty reduction, particularly in the period following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he stressed that the analysis should be broadened to include a comparative international context.

Despite recent increases, Mexico continues to rank in the lower-middle range globally in terms of labor compensation. According to comparisons by organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) , the country maintains average wages below most of its members and lags behind Latin American economies like Chile and Colombia when considering variables such as hourly wage and purchasing power. This gap, he stated, reflects that the wage challenge in Mexico is structural and cannot be resolved solely through increases in the minimum wage.

In this context, Valadez García warned that, although wage policy has shown positive effects, significant challenges remain . Among these, he cited the wide wage gap with the United States and Canada, the risk that rapid increases without parallel improvements in productivity could incentivize informality and negatively impact micro and small businesses, and the need to consider the political and trade environment, especially given the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) .

For Baja California, the specialist noted that the sustained reduction of extreme poverty in recent years suggests that the minimum wage has been an effective tool, although insufficient on its own.

“The challenge for the border region is not only to increase income, but to make it compatible with productivity, formality, and international competitiveness,” he pointed out.

He also argued that the increase in the minimum wage should be understood as part of a comprehensive economic strategy that takes into account regional particularities and prioritizes the balance between social welfare and long-term economic viability, especially in areas closely linked to international trade, such as the northern border.

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In Mexico , having a job doesn’t always guarantee stability , equity , or development . Although the conversation about workplace well-being , inclusion, and fair compensation has gained traction in recent years, the reality remains complex and, in many cases, unequal.

This was reflected in the new 2025 Salary Study , prepared by Worky , which analyzed more than 17 thousand records of collaborators from companies from different industries , sizes and regions , which gives an x-ray of the Mexican labor market that, far from showing a balance, highlights structural inequalities , organizational challenges and deep generational tensions .

From the persistent gender pay gap to the lack of female representation in management positions; from modest salaries in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the high turnover of young talent , the study is an urgent call to rethink staff attraction , retention , and compensation strategies .

Gender pay gap

One of the most striking findings is the gender pay gap , which reached 25 percent. While men earn an average of 31,025 pesos per month, women earn 23,178 pesos, a difference that persists even in equivalent positions.

The phenomenon was not only observed in base salaries , but also reflected the low representation of women in leadership positions . At level 10 (national management) , men earn 302,285 pesos and women 265,160 pesos; while at level 11 (regional management) , the gap remains the same: 462,282 pesos versus 427,338 pesos.

Furthermore, roles traditionally associated with women, such as administrative assistant , customer service , or payroll and recruitment , continue to be among the lowest paid in the market, with monthly salaries ranging from 14,000 to 21,000 pesos.

“Structural bias is a cost factor,” the study noted, warning that gender segmentation in certain positions perpetuates wage inequalities and limits women’s access to career paths with better conditions.

SMEs, the heart of employment with salaries below the average

More than half (53.19%) of the companies included in the analysis have fewer than 30 employees, reflecting the central role that SMEs play  in job creation in Mexico .

However, it also revealed one of the main challenges of the labor ecosystem : SMEs tend to offer lower salaries and face greater difficulties competing for talent against industries with greater financial capacity.

Despite this, SMEs are key to the economy, “sustaining the labor market ,” the report noted, suggesting that these organizations need support to professionalize their compensation structures , adopt technology , and offer differentiating benefits beyond salary .

Young talent and high turnover

83.16% of the workers analyzed have less than five years of seniority in their position and one in four collaborators (26.11%) have been there less than a year.

This high turnover reflects a new work reality, in which young professionals seek environments where they can develop quickly, access challenging experiences and find a clear purpose .

According to the report, this dynamism places constant pressure on organizations to build attractive organizational cultures , establish clear career paths , and offer non-monetary benefits such as flexibility , mental health , or hybrid schemes .

At mid-level, he indicated, more than 50% of employees have less than five years of experience, and less than 5% in key positions have more than 20 years of experience, highlighting a senior leadership deficit that could affect strategic decision-making in many organizations.

In this context, the study proposes a series of concrete recommendations for companies to address the identified challenges, such as salary audits to detect and correct inequalities based on gender or seniority; female leadership programs to close the glass ceiling; stable hiring to improve retention and engagement; personalized career plans and benefits for young talent; and the use of data intelligence and technology to make more effective salary decisions aligned with the business.

He also highlighted the importance of adapting compensation strategies to regional differences .
For example, states like Mexico City , Nuevo León, and Jalisco have the highest salaries , while states like Chiapas , Oaxaca , and Colima have the lowest salaries in the country.

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