Regional Employment Expectations on the Rise
Employers in central Mexico have improved their hiring expectations for the final quarter of 2025 compared to the previous trimester, according to ManpowerGroup’s Employment Outlook Survey.
Survey Details
The survey, which included 1,000 employers nationwide, reported a Net Employment Trend (NET) of 28% for the central region in the October-December period. This figure is calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers planning to reduce their workforce from those intending to hire.
Regional Comparison
The central region’s NET is one percentage point higher than the national average of 27% for the same period. Among the seven regions surveyed, the southeast has the highest employment expectations at 31%, followed by the north (31%), Mexico City (30%), central (28%), northeast (26%), west (21%), and northwest (19%) with the lowest.
National Employment Outlook
Nationally, 44% of respondents plan to increase hiring, 16% intend to decrease it, and 39% expect no changes in their workforce, resulting in a national NET of 27%. This cautious approach by employers is evident, with the current trend being one percentage point lower than the previous trimester and two points less than the same period in 2024.
Factors Influencing Employment
Beatriz Robles, Operations Director of ManpowerGroup Mexico, highlighted that various factors are contributing to the low employment growth this year. These include uncertainty surrounding US tariff policies, the upcoming review of the Mexico-US-Canada Agreement (T-MEC), and issues related to the rule of law, country security, among others.
“There are multiple factors that have hindered the creation of more formal jobs. Investment is what truly drives formal employment, and for investment to thrive, it requires certainty. This year, such conditions of certainty have not been present, leading to employers’ caution in increasing job opportunities,” Robles explained.
Employment Figures
Although August concluded with a record-high 22.4 million formal jobs in the country, job creation in that month was the lowest since August 2015. So far this year, 216,538 jobs have been created, but the consulting firm anticipates a range of 40,000 to 150,000 new jobs for the year’s end, with a projected decrease in December. The inclusion of digital platform workers has contributed to the increased employment numbers, otherwise, the employment statistics would be more complex.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Net Employment Trend (NET)? The NET is a measure calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers planning to reduce their workforce from those intending to hire.
- How does central Mexico’s NET compare to the national average? Central Mexico’s NET is one percentage point higher than the national average of 27%.
- What factors are influencing the low employment growth this year? Uncertainty surrounding US tariff policies, the upcoming T-MEC review, and issues related to the rule of law and country security are contributing factors.
- What is the projected job creation range for 2025? The consulting firm estimates between 40,000 and 150,000 new jobs for the year’s end.
