Nuevo Leon Generates 16.7% of Mexico’s New Formal Jobs

Summary: Nuevo Leon generated 40,699 formal jobs from January through July 2026, accounting for 16.7% of Mexico’s 243,078 new IMSS-registered positions, despite a nationwide employment decline in July. The state’s 6,528 jobs per million inhabitants—more than three times the national average—underscores its position as a leading employment and investment hub, although sustaining growth will depend on continued investment, business expansion and SME development as Mexico’s labor market slows. 

Nuevo Leon accounted for 16.7% of the new formal jobs created in Mexico between January and July 2026, as the state’s labor market continued to expand despite a decline in national employment during July, according to data from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS).

The northern state added 40,699 formal jobs during the first seven months of the year, up from 31,100 positions during the same period in 2025. The increase of 9,599 jobs means the state generated roughly one in every six of the 243,078 new formal positions registered nationwide through July.

The state’s employment performance comes as Mexico’s formal labor market faces slower growth. Nationally, employers shed 19,550 formal jobs in July, a 0.1% monthly decline that followed the creation of 61,023 positions in June. Despite the monthly contraction, total IMSS-affiliated employment reached 22.76 million workers at the end of July, the fourth-highest level in the institute’s historical series and the highest figure recorded for the month. 

Nuevo Leon Maintains Positive Employment Balance

Nuevo Leon’s July performance contrasted with the national decline, with the state adding 500 formal jobs during the month. The result allowed the entity to maintain a positive employment balance while national hiring contracted.

The state ended July with 1,975,321 workers affiliated with the IMSS, placing it among the Mexican states with the largest formal employment bases. Its performance during the first seven months also represented an improvement over the same period of 2025, when it added 31,100 positions.

Betsabé Rocha, Minister of Economy of Nuevo León, said the employment figures demonstrate the state’s ability to continue generating opportunities despite economic conditions in Mexico and international markets.

“Nuevo Leon continues generating opportunities and employment for our people. Today, one of every six new jobs created in Mexico during this year is being generated in our state, which demonstrates the strength of our economy and the confidence companies maintain to invest, grow and generate employment here,” Rocha said.

The state’s results come as companies operating in Mexico face changes in demand, investment conditions and global trade. At the national level, employment growth has slowed during 2026, although the total number of formal positions remains near historical highs. 

Employment Growth Outpaces National Average

Nuevo Leon’s position becomes more pronounced when employment creation is measured against population. Between January and July, the state generated 6,528 new formal jobs per million inhabitants, compared with a national average of 1,853.

On this basis, Nuevo Leon generated more than three times the number of jobs per million inhabitants recorded nationwide during the period. The indicator highlights the state’s contribution to formal employment relative to its population and supports its position as one of Mexico’s main employment-generating markets.

At the national level, 95.4% of the 243,078 jobs created between January and July were permanent positions. The share indicates that most of the employment generated during the period was tied to permanent contracts, despite monthly fluctuations in hiring, reported MBN. 

The national average base contribution wage also reached a record MX$673.9 (US$38) per day in July. The figure represented a nominal annual increase of MX$42.4, marking the fifth-largest July increase since IMSS began tracking the indicator. 

Investment Remains Key to Employment Growth

The employment results also place investment and business expansion at the center of Nuevo Leon’s strategy for sustaining job creation. State authorities said attracting new projects, supporting companies already operating in the state and strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises will be necessary to maintain employment growth.

“Our objective is for economic growth to translate into jobs and better opportunities for families. That is why we continue working to attract new investments, support the expansion of companies that are already in Nuevo Leon and strengthen our SMEs, because behind every new job there is a family finding an opportunity to move forward,” Rocha said.

The state’s approach comes as national employment data shows an uneven labor market. Mexico’s formal employment expanded by 326,987 positions over the 12 months through July, representing annual growth of 1.5%. The rate was down from 2% in June.

In regards to employment by sector, transportation and communications recorded the strongest annual employment growth at 7.5%, followed by the extractive industry at 4.3% and social and communal services at 3.3%. Agriculture employment declined 5.6%, while manufacturing fell 0.7%, reflecting continued pressure in export-oriented production.

The national labor market has also experienced significant monthly swings in 2026. Employment declined by close to 30,000 positions in May before rebounding with more than 61,000 new jobs in June and then contracting again in July.

Against this backdrop, Nuevo Leon’s addition of 40,699 jobs through July and its positive monthly balance point to continued employment activity in one of Mexico’s main industrial and business centers. Sustaining that performance will depend on the state’s ability to attract investment, support existing operations and expand opportunities for SMEs as national employment growth moderates.