Mexico's unemployment rate rose to 2.8% in May 2026, the highest level in eight months, up from 2.5% in April. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 200,000 to 1.7 million, while the number of employed persons fell by the same amount, to 60.4 million. The economically active population remained unchanged at 62.1 million, with the labor force participation rate holding steady at 59.1%.
Among employed workers, salaried employees accounted for the largest share at 68.5%, followed by the self-employed (22.3%), employers (5.9%), and unpaid family workers (3.4%). By sector, services represented 44.4% of total employment, followed by commerce (19.9%), manufacturing (16.2%), agriculture (10.0%), and construction (8.0%).
The unemployment rate was slightly higher for women (2.8%) than for men (2.7%). In terms of educational attainment, 12% of unemployed individuals had not completed secondary education, while 88% had achieved at least that level or higher. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate edged up to 2.7% in May from 2.6% in April.
