Mexico's unemployment rate rose to 2.4% in March 2026 from 2.2% in the same month a year ago, slightly below market forecasts of 2.5%. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 136 thousand to 1.5 million, while the number of employed advanced by 422 thousand to 60.2 million. The economically active population rose by 558 thousand to 61.6 million, which resulted in a participation rate of 58.6%. Among the unemployed, 10% had not completed secondary education, while 88.9% held higher education. Most were aged 25 to 44 (49.9%), followed by ages 15 to 24 (32.5%). Seasonally adjusted, the unemployment rate edged up to 2.8% from 2.7% in the prior month. source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI)

Unemployment Rate in Mexico decreased to 2.40 percent in March from 2.60 percent in February of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Mexico averaged 3.66 percent from 1994 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 6.42 percent in September of 2009 and a record low of 2.20 percent in March of 2025. This page provides the latest reported value for - Mexico Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Mexico Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Mexico decreased to 2.40 percent in March from 2.60 percent in February of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Mexico is expected to be 3.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Mexico Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 3.00 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-27 12:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 2.6% 2.7% 2.6% 2.6%
2026-04-24 12:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 2.4% 2.6% 2.5% 2.4%
2026-05-28 12:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 2.4%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 59785854.00 59533449.00 Dec 2025
Employment Rate 97.58 97.41 percent Mar 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 58.60 59.01 percent Mar 2026
Labour Costs 163.40 170.70 points Feb 2026
Productivity 90.40 95.70 points Feb 2026
Unemployed Persons 1562348.00 1769806.00 Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 2.40 2.60 percent Mar 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 4.80 4.80 USD/Hour Feb 2026


Mexico Unemployment Rate
In Mexico, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.40 2.60 6.42 2.20 1994 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Mexico Jobless Rate Rises But Less than Forecast
Mexico's unemployment rate rose to 2.4% in March 2026 from 2.2% in the same month a year ago, slightly below market forecasts of 2.5%. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 136 thousand to 1.5 million, while the number of employed advanced by 422 thousand to 60.2 million. The economically active population rose by 558 thousand to 61.6 million, which resulted in a participation rate of 58.6%. Among the unemployed, 10% had not completed secondary education, while 88.9% held higher education. Most were aged 25 to 44 (49.9%), followed by ages 15 to 24 (32.5%). Seasonally adjusted, the unemployment rate edged up to 2.8% from 2.7% in the prior month.
2026-04-24
Mexico Unemployment Rises in February
Mexico's unemployment rate rose slightly to 2.6% in February 2026, up from 2.5% a year earlier and matching forecasts. The unemployed totaled 1.6 million, up 76,000 year-over-year. Female unemployment reached 693,000 (up 53,000), while male unemployment stood at 907,000 (up 23,000), with rates of 2.8% and 2.5% respectively. Among the unemployed, 10.3% had not completed secondary education, while 89.6% held higher education. Most were aged 25 to 44 (47.4%), followed by ages 15 to 24 (34.1%). Of the unemployed, 41.5% were jobless for one month or less, and 38.4% for more than one month but up to three months. Underemployment, those seeking more hours or additional jobs, rose to 7.0% from 6.3% a year earlier. Workers in critical employment conditions, with earnings below minimum wage equivalents, edged up to 39.3% from 38.9%. Informal employment remained high at 54.8%, compared to 54.5% in February 2025.
2026-03-27
Mexico’s Jobless Rate Slightly Above Forecast
Mexico’s unemployment rate held steady at 2.7% in January 2026, unchanged year-over-year and slightly above forecasts of 2.6%, with 1.7 million unemployed. The rate was identical for men and women, though women saw a 0.2-point annual decline while men rose 0.1 point. Among the unemployed, 12.6% lacked secondary education, while 87.2% had higher education. The largest share (43.7%) was aged 25–44, followed by 15–24 year-olds (32.8%). Half (50.6%) had been jobless for one month or less, 31.1% for 1–3 months.
2026-02-26