Quintana Roo loses 13,000 jobs in tourism low season

Labor Force Reduction Reflects Slowdown After Summer, Though Tourism Maintains Some Resilience in the State

The labor market in Quintana Roo experienced a significant contraction during the third quarter of 2025, losing approximately 13,000 jobs from July to September, a period that traditionally marks the low season in the region’s tourism industry. This trend aligns with historical patterns where the local economy adjusts its pace after the high season, but also reflects changes in employment dynamics affecting various sectors. The decrease in employment raised the unemployment rate in the state, generating greater concern about labor stability in a sector crucial to the regional economy.

A detailed analysis reveals that the tertiary sector was the most affected, with the loss of 17,000 positions related to diverse services, while manufacturing and agriculture also reported declines, with six thousand and five thousand fewer jobs respectively. Despite these drops, some tourism-related activities managed to maintain their resilience; jobs in restaurants and lodging increased by seven thousand positions, and commerce added five thousand new jobs. However, the unemployment rate in the entity rose to 3.1%, reflecting tension in the labor market and the typical temporary closure of vacancies at the end of the summer cycle.

The impact was particularly noticeable among the female population, which saw an increase in unemployment from seven thousand to eleven thousand people, compared to men, whose number went from 18,000 to 20,000. Underemployment also showed an increase, reaching 62,000 active workers in the most precarious labor conditions, with a slight trend toward precarity, as most work long hours and receive low incomes. Additionally, the challenge of informality persists, still affecting more than 43% of the labor force, with about 220,000 people without benefits or social security, a problem that limits economic growth and social protection in the region.

In this context, the loss of jobs during the low season reflects both the effects of seasonality and the structural challenges of a labor market dependent on tourism, whose dynamism remains fundamental to Quintana Roo’s economy.