Quintana Roo Leads Mexico in Employment Levels

QUINTANA ROO, Mexico — Quintana Roo has advanced to become the state with the highest level of employment in the nation, according to a report from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).

The National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE) reveals that more than 60 percent of the Economically Active Population of Quintana Roo has formal employment. As of the close of the first semester of the year, Quintana Roo moved from the third to the first national position for employment levels.

Peninsula Leads National Employment Rates

The Yucatán Peninsula is now home to the highest levels of active employment relative to its Economically Active Population (PEA) in the entire country. According to Inegi, the federative entities of the Yucatán Peninsula stand out in the report on rates of participation in economic activity.

The states with the highest rates are:

• 67.0 percent in Quintana Roo;
• 66.7 percent in Baja California Sur;
• 65.8 percent in Yucatán;
• 65.8 percent in Colima; and
• 65.8 percent in Nayarit.

The ENOE report for the second quarter of the year establishes that Quintana Roo, notable for its tourism activity, has 987,728 people over the age of 15 employed in both the formal and informal sectors. Meanwhile, Yucatán registered 1.2 million employed persons, and Campeche lagged behind with just 423,431 people.

Cancún and Mérida Show Strong Employment Figures

A city-level analysis shows Cancún moved from fifth to third place nationally during this period, with 65.8 percent of its population employed. This translates to a total of 478,824 people occupied in the jewel of the Mexican Caribbean.

Mérida moved from fourth to fifth national position, with an occupancy rate of 64.9 percent, representing 639,982 active workers in the Yucatán capital.

Infrastructure Projects Fuel Job Growth

Major infrastructure works are cited as key drivers of this employment surge in Quintana Roo. Projects such as the Tren Maya, the Tulum International Airport, and the Nichupté Bridge, among others, are noted for their impact. The report also credits the coordination with state infrastructure investments and projects, alongside a collaborative dialogue with the private sector, for detonating employment growth in the state.

The report concludes by noting that a significant challenge remains: reducing the rate of people working in the informal sector.