Mexico Adds 670K Jobs in July, Construction Sector Booms

Nearly 671,000 Mexican workers found jobs in July, marking the country's strongest month for employment in 2026 and bringing welcome relief after two months of job losses.

The good news comes with a catch. Most of the new positions lack traditional benefits like health insurance and paid vacation, part of what economists call the "informal sector." But for families who needed income, these jobs represent real progress.

Construction workers are leading the charge. Mexico's building industry added more than 522,000 jobs over the past year, according to data from the national statistics agency INEGI. From housing developments to infrastructure projects, cranes and hard hats are becoming fixtures across Mexican cities.

About 60.75 million people now work in Mexico, with unemployment ticking up just slightly to 2.9% in July. The services sector employs the largest share of workers at 63%, followed by manufacturing and construction at 25%.

The jobs data reveals genuine economic activity happening on the ground. While formal sector positions declined by about 413,000 in July, informal work surged by over 1 million, creating that net positive of 670,991 new jobs.

The Bright Side

Behind each statistic is a real person now earning money. Whether it's construction workers building Mexico's future infrastructure or service workers supporting their families, employment means dignity and opportunity.

The construction boom signals investor confidence and infrastructure development. These projects create immediate jobs while building the foundation for future economic growth. Roads, buildings, and energy projects require workers today and enable commerce tomorrow.

Even underemployment dropped compared to last year. About 6.7% of workers reported wanting more hours in July, down from 7.3% the previous year. More people are finding the work they need.

Mexico's economy also showed resilience in the second quarter, growing 1.4% from April to June—the strongest second-quarter performance since 2021.

The challenge ahead is converting informal work into careers with benefits and security. But for now, hundreds of thousands of families have something they didn't have before: a paycheck and a path forward.