mexico
workforce
profile no.21
mexico
workforce
profile no.21
march 2010
march 2010
mexico
Workforce Profile
Laura Ruiz Pérez
introduction to mexico
United States
Mexico, a federal constitutional republic, is the fifth largest country in the Americas by area,
covering 1,964,375 square kilometers (over 760,000 sq. miles), and the 14th largest in the
world. With one of the oldest and richest cultural histories dating back to the Mayan and
Aztec cultures, today Mexico has an estimated population of 111 million people (2009).
87.99% of the population is Roman Catholic.1,2
Mexico
Guat.
Honduras
About this Statistical Profile
Organizations striving to be
employers-of-choice in different
countries around the world need
access to current information about
the economic, social, political, and
demographic characteristics of the
countries where their employees live
and work.
In 1521 Spain conquered the territory and 300 years of colonization followed, until Mexico
declared its independence in 1821. The Mexican Revolution occurred in 1910.3 In the years
of the “Mexican miracle” (1940-1970), the rate of economic growth in Mexico was close to
or grater than 6.0%.4 In the last decade, the Mexican economic system has made progress
toward achieving economic stability, opening its economy while establishing bases for
sustainable, long-term growth.5
The 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) established free trade between
Mexico, the United States, and Canada. In 2007, manufacturing produced Mexico’s main
exports, 80.7%.6 Mexico has been a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation
& Development (OECD) since 1994, the only Latin American member.7
The Country Profile Series focuses
on statistics that can guide decisionmaking at the workplace: workforce
highlights, economic highlights, and
population highlights. This Country
Profile is part of a set of resources
about Mexico available on the
website of the Global Perspectives
Institute: www.bc.edu/agingandwork.
Sponsored by:
agework@bc.edu
1
labor force highlights
àà The employment rate in Mexico in 2007 was 61.1%.8
àà Economically active population in Mexico is projected to increase from 106.5 million
in 2007 to 120.5 million in 2020. The “economically active population” comprises all
persons of either sex who furnish the supply of labor for the production of goods and
services during a specified time reference period.9
àà The unemployment rate in 2008 was 3.5%.10
àà In 2004, the average hours usually worked in the main job by Mexican employees
(working either full- or part-time) was 43.6.10
àà In 2004, 15.1% of Mexican employees worked part-time.9
àà 33.9% of the total civilian employed labor force reported being self-employed in
2008.10
Figure 1a. Employed as Percent of Total Population - Selected Regional Countries, 2008
42.3
Mexico
66.0
United States
55.0
Canada
0%
Compared with the other North
American countries, Mexico has the
lowest rate of employed individuals
as a percent of the population.
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Source: OECD10
Figure 1b. Employed as Percent of Total Population - Selected GDP Countries, 2008
42.3
Mexico
50.1
Spain
Italy
42.3
Canada
0%
Compared to countries with similar
gross domestic products, Mexico
and Italy have the lowest rate of
employed individuals as a percent of
their populations.
55.0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Source: OECD10
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http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
mexico
workforce
profile no.21
march 2010
Figure 2. Employment Rate, Ages 15-64, by Gender, Mexico and Comparable
OECD Countries
100%
80%
Mexico has the highest employment
rate among men and lowest
employment rate among women,
compared to comparable OECD
nations.
Male
Female
80.9
77.4
77.2
70.7
70.1
55.5
60%
46.6
43.6
40%
20%
0%
Mexico
Canada
Italy
Spain
Source: OECD10
Figure 3. Employment Rates in Mexico, within age group, 2008
80%
The age groups with the lowest
employment rates are the youngest
(15-19) and the oldest (55-64).
69.4
57.7
60%
40%
72.9
69.4
54.7
33.4
20%
0%
15-19
20-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
Source: OECD10
Figure 4. Employment Rates in Mexico Compared to Selected Regional Countries,
within age group, 2008
In 2008, Mexico had the lowest
employment rate among 25-54 and
55-64 year olds in North America.
100%
Mexico
Canada
80%
United States
60%
40%
20%
0%
15-24
25-54
55-64
Source: OECD10
agework@bc.edu
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Figure 5a. Current & Projected Economically Active Population Estimates and Projections in Mexico, within age group, 2007 & 2020
80%
69.9 69.6
70%
72.5
75.5 74.2
78.0
74.8
76.2
72.0
74.5
67.5
66.3
58.7
60%
53.0
48.4 47.5
50%
40%
30%
2007
2020
70.6 70.0
33.8
27.7
25.5
22.6
20%
10%
0%
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65+
Source:International Labour Organization9
Figure 5b. Current & Projected Percent of Total Population Economically Active in Mexico,
2007 & 2020
2007 Male 4.6
Under 20
16.1
36.0
20-44
2007 Female 2.3
20.4
0%
45+
22.1
34.1
2020 Male 3.2
2020 Female 1.9
9.8
21.1
10%
12.6
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Source:International Labour Organization9
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mexico
workforce
profile no.21
economic highlights
àà Gross Domestic Product per capita in Mexico was $14,200 in 2008, while it was
$39,100 in Canada and $46,900 in the United States.8
march 2010
àà The gross domestic product of Mexico grew by 1.3% in 2008. This was a smaller
amount of growth compared to prior years (5.1% in 2006 and 3.3% in 2007).8
Figure 6. GDP Growth, Regional Comparisons, 1990-2007
Mexico
Canada
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
1999
2000
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
United States
1990
Compared with the United States
and Canada, Mexico experienced
more significant growth in its GDP
from 2004-2007.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
*2001 data for Mexico not available.
Source: OECD10
Figure 7. Total External Debt as Percentage of GDP, Mexico and similar GDP countries, 2004-2007
120%
Mexico
Canada
100%
Mexico had the lowest external debt
as a percentage of GDP, compared
to other countries with similar
GDP’s.
Italy
Spain
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
2004
2005
2006
2007
Source: CIA World Factbook8
agework@bc.edu
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demographic highlights
àà In 2009, the Mexican population was 111,211,789, compared to 307,212,123 for the
United States and 33,487,208 for Canada.8
àà The most common ethnic groups in Mexico are mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish)
(60%), Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian (30%), and white (9%).8
àà Total fertility rate indicates the number of children to be born to a woman during
her reproductive span of her life. The total fertility rate for Mexican women in 2009
was 2.3 children.8
àà In 2009, 6.2% of the Mexican population was age 65 or older, compared to 12.8%
in the United States and 15.2% in Canada.8, 11
Figure 8. Median Age, by Gender, Mexico and Regional Comparisons, 2009
Mexico
25.3
Male
United States
35.4
Canada
39.3
27.3
Female
Mexico has lower median ages for
both males and females, compared
to Canada and the United States. In
all three countries, the median age is
higher for women than men.
38.0
41.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
Source: CIA World Factbook8
Figure 9. Life Expectancy at Birth, Mexico and Regional Comparisons, 2009
Mexico
73.3
Male
United States
75.7
Canada
78.7
79.0
80.7
Female
83.9
0
20
40
60
80
100
Source: CIA World Factbook8
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http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
The life expectancy at birth for the
Mexican population in 2009 was
73.3 years for men and 79.0 years for
women.
mexico
workforce
profile no.21
àà In Mexico, 8.3% of the male population and 9.6% of the female population is 60 or
older.11 In comparison:
• In Canada, 19.2% of the male population and 22.7% of the female population
is 60 or older.11
• In the United States, 16.2% of the male population and 19.7% of the female
population is 60 or older.11
march 2010
àà In Mexico, the majority of the population is under the age of 25. Canada and the
United States show much different dynamics and have significantly larger older
adult population groups. (See Figures 10a-10c, and Figure 11.)
Figure 10a. Population Distribution of Mexico, 2009
100+
95-99
90-94
85-89
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
Male
10
8
2
4
6
0
0
Female
2
4
6
8
10
8
10
% of Population
Source: US Census Bureau
11
Figure 10b. Population Distribution of Canada, 2009
100+
95-99
90-94
85-89
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
Male
10
8
6
4
2
0
0
Female
2
4
6
% of Population
Source: US Census Bureau
11
agework@bc.edu
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Figure 10c. Population Distribution of the United States, 2009
100+
95-99
90-94
85-89
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
Male
10
8
4
6
2
0
Female
0
2
4
6
8
10
8
10
% of Population
Source: US Census Bureau11
Figure 11. Population Distribution of Mexico, 2050
Male
Female
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
10
8
4
6
2
0
0
2
4
6
% of Population
Source: US Census Bureau
8
11
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
mexico
workforce
profile no.21
march 2010
references
1 Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía. (2009). Conteo de población y vivienda 2005. Retrieved from
http://www.inegi.org.mx
2 Thomas White -Global Investing. (2009). Mexico: Weathering the storm. Retrieved from http://www.thomaswhite.com/explore-the-world/mexico.aspx?gclid=CKzhlqbqi58CFQjyDAoddhBIOQ
3 Aboites, L., Escalante, P., García, B., Garciadiego, J., Jáuregui, L., Speckman, E., et al. (2009). Nueva historia
mínima de México. México, Centro de Estudios Históricos, El Colegio de México, A.C.
4 Ruiz, C. (1999). La economía y las modalídades de la urbanización en México: 1940-1990. Economía, Sociedad y Territoria, 2 (5), 1-24.
5 Chiquiar, D. & Ramos-Francia, M. (2009). Competitiveness and growth of the Mexican economy. Banco de
México. Retrieved from http://www.banxico.org.mx/publicaciones-y-discursos/publicaciones/documentosde-investigacion/banxico/%7BA07F4B14-3BC3-2B7C-361B-97DA7C4296CF%7D.pdf
6 Hausmann R., Lozoya E. & Mia I. (2009). The Mexico competitiveness report 2009. World Economic Forum
and Harvard Univeristy Retrieved from http://www.weforum.org/pdf/Mexico/MCR_2009.pdf
7 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2009). OECD economic surveys Mexico. Paris,
France: OECD Publishing.
8 The Central Intelligence Agency. (2009). The CIA world factbook. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/
publications/the-world-factbook
9 International Labour Office. (2009). LABORSTA internet. Retrieved from http://laborsta.ilo.org/
10 Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2009). Country statistical profiles. Retrieved
from http://www.oecd.org/statsportal/0,3352,en_2825_293564_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
11 U. S. Census Bureau. (2009). International database. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/
agework@bc.edu
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about the institute
Established in 2007 by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College, the Global
Perspectives Institute is an international collaboration of scholars and employers
committed to the expansion of the quality of employment available to the 21st century
multi-generational workforce in countries around the world.
The Global Perspectives Institute focuses on innovative and promising practices that might
be adopted by employers and policy-makers.
The Institute’s research, publications, and international forums contribute to:
àà
a deeper understanding of the employment experiences and career aspirations of
employees of different ages who work in countries around the world;
àà
informed decision making by employers who want to be employers-of-choice in
different countries; and
àà
innovative thinking about private-public partnerships that promote sustainable,
high-quality employment.
The Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College promotes quality of employment as
an imperative for the 21st century multi-generational workforce. We integrate evidence from
research with insights from workplace experiences to inform innovative organizational
decision making. Collaborating with business leaders and scholars in a multi-disciplinary
dialogue, the Center develops the next generation of knowledge and talent management.
The Sloan Center on Aging & Work is grateful for the continued support of the Alfred P.
Sloan Foundation.
Laura Ruiz Pérez, is the Dean of Social Programs at Virtual University, Tecnologico de Monterrey. Over
the past few years Dr. Ruiz has been working on the development of capacity building strategies for
agents of change. The main objective of her work is to achieve growth and development by empowering
social leaders through the creation of educational programs and strategies for innovation and sharing
best practices through social networks, using the potential of multimedia learning, Internet and other
information and communication technologies.
She has been conducting research on educational program development and evaluation for capacity
building in Latin America and, is the co-author and author of several publications and conference papers
in cognitive theory, education and distance learning.
Dr Ruiz has held several senior executive positions in the Mexican Government at federal and local levels.
She was also a consultant in the development of public policy development programs.
10
http://www.bc.edu/agingandwork
Country Context Team Leaders
Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Director, Sloan
Center on Aging and Work
Tay K. McNamara, Director of Research,
Sloan Center on Aging and Work
Jungui Lee, Postdoctoral researcher,
Sloan Center on Aging and Work
mexico
workforce
profile no.21
march 2010
For additional Sloan Center publications, visit our website at www.bc.edu/agingandwork
Global Statistical Profile 01 - Japan
Global Statistical Profile 02 - United States
Global Statistical Profile 03 - Pakistan
Global Statistical Profile 04 - South Korea
Global Statistical Profile 05 - China
Global Statistical Profile 06 - Greece
Global Statistical Profile 07 - Armenia
Global Statistical Profile 08 - Italy
Global Statistical Profile 09 - Singapore
Global Statistical Profile 10 - Denmark
agework@bc.edu
Global Statistical Profile 11 - South Africa
Global Statistical Profile 12 - India
Global Statistical Profile 13 - Kenya
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Global Statistical Profile 19 - Spain
Global Statistical Profile 20- Ireland
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