Introduction
In the first quarter of 2025, precarious employment saw a decrease of 4.7 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024, according to Alfonso Bouzas, coordinator of the Labor Observatory.
Precarious Employment Definition and Statistics
Precarious employment is characterized by long working hours with low wages or insufficient work hours, despite the ability to work more. In Q1 2025, this type of employment accounted for 34.8% of the total employed population, down from 39.5% in the same period of 2024.
This translates to approximately 20.5 million people working under inadequate conditions regarding work hours, income, or a combination of both.
The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) defines precarious employment as including those working less than 35 hours weekly due to reasons beyond their control, individuals working more than 35 hours per week with monthly earnings below the minimum wage, and those working over 48 hours per week but earning up to two minimum wages.
Reasons for the Decline
The reduction in precarious employment can be attributed to a decrease in the overall employed population in Q1 2025, which is at least 236,000 fewer people than in the same period of 2024. However, analysts also point to improved wages as a contributing factor in reducing precarious employment.
Alfonso Bouzas’ Perspective
Alfonso Bouzas, coordinator of the Labor Observatory, noted a significant shift in employment patterns in 2024 and throughout 2025. He emphasized that substantial progress was made in 2024, compelling employers to adhere to proper hiring regulations.
Bouzas highlighted that the Social Security system has seen an increase in affiliated individuals, partly due to enforcing rules that previously allowed employers to evade compliance. He mentioned ongoing qualitative changes benefiting workers.
Bouzas also underscored the importance of programs like First Employment, which facilitate young individuals’ entry into the workforce without falling into the cycle of requesting experience upon graduation.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is precarious employment? Precarious employment refers to working long hours with low wages or insufficient work hours, despite the ability to work more.
- What are the statistics for precarious employment in Q1 2025? Precarious employment accounted for 34.8% of the total employed population in Q1 2025, a decrease from 39.5% in the same period of 2024.
- What factors contributed to the decline in precarious employment? The decrease can be attributed to a reduction in the overall employed population and improved wages.
- What role did Alfonso Bouzas play in addressing precarious employment? As coordinator of the Labor Observatory, Bouzas highlighted significant changes in employment patterns and enforcement of regulations by employers.
