Mexico’s Construction Jobs Grow Despite Slowdown

According to the Annual Survey of Construction Companies (EAEC) published by Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) on Dec. 8, the construction sector generated 586,000 jobs in 2024, reflecting continued resilience despite a moderation in production. Employment in the sector grew 2.1% YoY, while total hours worked increased 0.9%, confirming steady labor demand across construction activities.

INEGI data shows that remunerations paid by construction companies rose 14.3% in 2024, alongside a 4.4% increase in the total value of fixed assets, signaling sustained investment in productive capacity. However, the overall value of production declined 1.0% annually, following a strong expansion in 2023, highlighting a slowdown in output rather than a contraction in sector fundamentals. 

Women accounted for 16.6% of total construction employment in 2024, representing over 97,000 workers, up from previous years, while men represented 83.4% of the workforce. The Edification (Building) subsector remained the largest employer for both men and women, followed by Civil Engineering Works, where female participation increased notably over the 2022–2024 period.

Production dynamics varied across subsectors. Edification posted a 5.2% annual increase in production value, while Specialized Construction Works grew 6.7%, reflecting strength in finishing, maintenance, and technical services. In contrast, Civil Engineering Works fell 7.6%, pulling down the sector’s aggregate performance, although it still represented the largest share of total production at 46.6%.

Workforce Training

Training coverage improved modestly. In 2024, 45.1% of construction companies provided training to their workers, up from 2023. Civil engineering firms led in training participation, followed closely by specialized contractors, reflecting rising skills requirements amid technological and operational changes in the sector.

Overall, INEGI’s EAEC results point to a construction sector that continued to generate employment, raise wages, and invest in assets in 2024, even as production growth cooled. The data highlights structural shifts within subsectors and a gradual expansion in workforce inclusion and skills development, factors that remain central to the sector’s medium-term outlook.

Industrial Slowdown

Investment continued to prioritize equipment. Machinery and construction equipment accounted for 51.9% of total fixed assets, followed by real estate assets. Together, these categories represented more than 73% of total fixed capital, underscoring the sector’s capital-intensive nature and ongoing modernization efforts.

These trends align with data from the Monthly Indicator of Industrial Activity (IMAI), which shows that Mexico’s industrial output contracted 2.4% year-on-year in December 2024, with a 1.4% monthly decline. Construction was the weakest major industrial component, falling 2.1% month-on-month and 7.1% year-on-year, significantly underperforming manufacturing (which contracted by 0.3%) and utilities, which still posted annual growth (1.8%).

More detailed IMAI figures reveal the depth of the civil engineering slowdown. By December 2024, civil engineering output plunged 33.6% YoY, while edification still expanded 1.8%, and specialized construction works declined 5.5%. This confirms that weakness is concentrated in large-scale infrastructure and public works, rather than in private building activity.