State of Mexico Scales Job Programs for Returning Migrants

The government of the State of Mexico has expanded job placement and skills certification programs aimed at migrants returning from the United States, seeking to facilitate their reintegration into the local labor market as deportations rise and labor shortages persist across key industries.

The initiative, led by the State of Mexico’s Ministry of Labor, targets migrants living in the state who have been deported or who have chosen to return amid shifts in US immigration policy. Authorities are directing returnees to regional employment offices and state-run training centers to access job listings, vocational courses, and labor certification programs designed to improve their employability within the formal economy.

Norberto Morales, Head, State Labor Ministry, says the measures were reinforced beginning in January 2025 under instructions from Governor Delfina Gómez, coinciding with the start of the current US administration. He acknowledges that participation has been limited so far but said the state maintains the capacity to support migrants seeking employment or training. “We have a job bank they can access,” Morales says. “It may not be comparable to what they earned in the United States, but it is a way to reintegrate into working life in Mexico.”

The program relies primarily on two institutional mechanisms: the Offices of Regional Employment (ORE) and the Industrial Training Institute of the State of Mexico (ICATI). Through ICATI, migrants can enroll in vocational courses and obtain certifications that attest to technical skills, which Morales said can improve access to better job conditions and broader employment options. The state operates ORE offices in municipalities including Atlacomulco, Ecatepec, Ixtapaluca, La Paz, Naucalpan, Nezahualcoyotl, San Mateo Atenco, Tejupilco, and Toluca, as well as training centers focused on industrial skills and arts and trades.

Federal data underscore the scale of migrant returns. According to Mexico’s Ministry of Interior, about 146,000 Mexican migrants were deported from the United States in 2025. While many initially arrived at Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), authorities later shifted arrival points, a change that Morales said contributed to fewer deportees approaching state employment offices or enrolling in training programs. Despite this, the state government remains prepared to assist migrants seeking to reenter the labor market, he adds.

The State of Mexico’s efforts take place within a broader national and international context marked by labor market disruptions, demographic shifts, and sustained migration flows. The International Labour Organization (ILO) warns that technological change, migration, climate-related shocks, and economic uncertainty are reshaping employment conditions globally. Speaking at the Global Labour Market Conference in January, Gilbert Houngbo, Director, ILO, said the central challenge for policymakers is not only the number of jobs created, but their quality, accessibility, and stability, particularly for groups exposed to displacement, including migrants.

Houngbo says that labor market transitions require investment in skills development, active labor market policies, and social protection systems to ensure that job creation keeps pace with disruption. He has also calls for attention to migrant workers, young people, and women, who often face higher exposure to informality and precarious employment.

In Mexico, these risks are reflected in employment data for migrant populations. The International Organization for Migration estimates that roughly 65% of irregular migrants living in the country are unemployed. Among those who work, only 10% have formal contracts, and about one-third report receiving regular income. While Mexico’s legal framework recognizes the right of all individuals to dignified work regardless of nationality or migration status, enforcement gaps persist, particularly in informal sectors.

The IOM argues that hiring migrants can offer economic advantages for employers, citing evidence that migrant workers often show lower turnover in sectors where entry barriers are high. World Bank data indicates that international migration contributes between 1.4% and 2% of GDP in upper-middle-income countries such as Mexico, suggesting that better labor integration could have macroeconomic effects.

Informality, however, remains a structural challenge. An analysis by the OECD has linked illicit economic activity, including counterfeit trade valued at up to US$467 billion annually, to labor exploitation such as forced labor, unsafe working conditions, and extended working hours. The report finds that countries with higher levels of informality and weaker labor protections tend to show greater exposure to illicit production, with migrant workers often employed under coercive conditions across illegal supply chains.

Domestically, concerns over labor market practices have extended to recruitment itself. In January, MORENA lawmaker Armando Corona introduced an initiative to prohibit deceptive job advertisements by defining misleading offers in the Federal Labor Law. The proposal seeks to address discrepancies between advertised and actual working conditions, particularly in digital recruitment channels, which have become the primary job search method for most urban workers. Lawmakers argue that deceptive job postings disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, including migrants and unemployed individuals, in an increasingly digital labor market.

Alongside regulation, private-sector participation has become a growing component of Mexico’s migration and labor strategy. Business organizations report increased coordination with authorities to absorb returInterior ning migrants and refugees into formal employment. The Business Coordinating Council (CCE) says that 126 affiliated companies have opened more than 45,000 vacancies for repatriated workers, with positions concentrated in Nuevo Leon, Mexico City, and the State of Mexico.

Corporate inclusion initiatives targeting refugees and migrants have also expanded. According to Brandon Yoder, Vice President Americas, Tent Partnership for Refugees, over 1.2 million migrants and 172,000 asylum seekers reside in Mexico, with nearly half saying they intend to remain in the country, a significant increase compared with 2024. Tent Mexico, a network of about 80 companies, works with employers such as Bimbo, HEB, Chedraui, Soriana, Liverpool, and Hilton to connect migrants and refugees with formal job opportunities.

Companies participating in these programs report business-related benefits. Retail chain OXXO says that refugee and migrant employees tend to stay in their roles four to six months longer than local hires, reducing costs associated with recruitment and training. Employers have also reported lower absenteeism and greater workforce stability, factors that can be particularly relevant in sectors facing persistent labor shortages.

At the international level, labor standards related to migration continue to evolve. In late 2025, the ILO approved its first global guidelines aimed at ensuring fair recruitment and employment of migrant fishers, a group long considered vulnerable to abuse. While sector-specific, the guidelines reflect a broader policy trend toward integrating labor rights, recruitment oversight and cross-border cooperation into migration governance.

For the State of Mexico, officials frame training and employment support as a practical response to these intersecting pressures. By offering certification, job matching, and institutional guidance, the state aims to channel returning migrants into formal employment while aligning with national labor reforms and international standards. Morales says the objective is to provide migrants with tools to reenter the workforce under clearer conditions, contributing to local economic activity as migration, labor supply, and competitiveness become increasingly interconnected.