Mexico City Reaches Record Formal Employment Rate in 2025

Mexico City reported its highest formal employment rate on record in the second quarter of 2025, according to data from the National Survey of Occupation and Employment (ENOE) conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). The capital registered 2.76 million people in formal jobs, representing 55.9% of the employed population.

With 4.94 million people employed, Mexico City accounts for 17.4% of the national workforce. The city’s economically active population totals 5.14 million, split between 46.5% women and 53.5% men.

The demographic profile shows that 66% of the employed population is between 30 and 59 years old, while 64% have completed upper secondary or higher education. This reflects a workforce concentrated in productive age groups and with high levels of educational attainment.

Between 2020 and 2025, the employed population in Mexico City grew by 37.2%, incorporating 1.34 million people, of whom 748,468 joined the formal labor market. Women accounted for 711,202 of these new jobs, representing 53.1% of those entering the workforce over the period. The largest employment sectors are commerce, with 972,633 workers; professional, financial and corporate services, with 883,422; and social services, with 587,117.

The increase is evidence of structural changes in the city’s labor market, with formal employment and access to labor rights gaining ground over informal work, says Inés González, Head, Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion (STyFE). However, she adds that half of the workforce still lacks social security, and 26.5% exceed the legal 48-hour workweek, issues requiring continued monitoring to ensure employment growth translates into broader social benefits.

Through its Employment Agency Tecpantli Icpac, the city provided services to over 6,500 people between January and August 2025, achieving a 23% placement rate in formal jobs.