La Jornada: Unemployment rate accelerated in May: Inegi

The labor market in the country showed mixed performance in May, because although the employed population increased in its annual variation, the unemployment rate accelerated compared to April, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) reported yesterday.

The National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE) shows that in the fifth month of 2026, the economically active employed population totaled 60 million 405 thousand 447 people, 407 thousand 802 more than in the same period last year. However, they were 194,585 less than in April.

In the reference period, the economically active population (EAP) was 62 million 121 thousand 193 people, an increase of 437 thousand compared to the same period last year. In its monthly variation, it decreased by 4,514.

The unemployed population, that is, those who did not work despite showing a willingness to do so, was 1.7 million people and represented 2.8 percent of the EAP, more than the 2.5 percent reported in April.

Monex analysts indicated that the data was higher than expected. They noted that the unemployment rate resumed “slight signs of acceleration, after the rebound observed in March, which suggests a moderate loss of dynamism in the national labor market.”

Banamex anticipated a slight increase in the unemployment rate for this year due to “a moderate dynamism in economic activity and job creation.”

The largest monthly decrease in the employed population by gender was recorded in men who worked. In the reference period, there were 35 million 545 thousand 559 men employed, a figure lower by 256 thousand 311 compared to April. However, in an annual comparison, an increase of 169,632 people was observed.

Employed women in the fifth month of the year totaled 24,859,888, an increase of 268,170 in their annual comparison and 61,726 more compared to April.

Meanwhile, 26.8 million people (44.4 percent of the EAP) were concentrated in the services sector; 12 million (19.9 percent) in commerce, so tertiary activities employed more than half of the employed population. The manufacturing industry follows, with 9.8 million; agriculture, livestock, forestry, hunting and fishing with 6 million; construction, 4.9 million, and other economic activities, with 381 thousand.

The underemployed population, that is, those who indicated the need and availability to work more hours than their current occupation demands, was 4.2 million people, 40 thousand less compared to May 2025. Thus, the underemployment rate was 7 percent of the employed population.