Job decline disproportionately affects women

In 2025, female employment deteriorated, both in formality and informality, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).

After releasing the National Occupation and Employment Survey (Enoe) for November 2025, Inegi estimated that 1.05 million jobs were lost in the penultimate month of the year, of which, 996,061 were positions for women, and 62,118 for men.

Meanwhile, compared to November 2024, employment in the country decreased a net of 162,872 people, made up of a loss of 440,382 jobs for women and an increase of 277,510 for men. Likewise, throughout the year (January-November), employment among women in Mexico fell by 309,163 jobs.

Meanwhile, formal employment for men increased by 363,432 positions in November compared to last October, while women lost 316,922 positions. If compared to November 2024, women lost 224,462 formal jobs; and 478 thousand 597 in the 11 months of 2025.

In the informal occupation, women also did poorly, as 679,139 jobs were destroyed month after month; So far this year, only 169,434 jobs have been created for women, compared to 792,951 jobs for men.

Indeed, a global employment site, stated a few months ago that 64 percent of Mexicans believe that women face more challenges than men in advancing to decision-making positions.

“It is essential that, in our current context, the role of women in leadership or decision-making positions is made visible and valued; this is an indicator that barriers are beginning to fade and opportunities are increasing.”

Companies must overcome the so-called glass ceiling to have greater diversity in their workforce, considering that 73 percent of companies in Mexico do not have women in relevant leadership positions.

The economic participation rate of women was 40.7 percent, almost half of the economically active population, according to Inegi data. The predominant sectors for them are concentrated in services, commerce and care roles (domestic, health, education), which are culturally associated with feminine tasks.

Informality remains high (54.8 percent one month before the end of the year), affecting women more and with a wide wage gap, although it has shown improvements.