La Jornada: More unemployment is recorded in June: Inegi

The unemployment rate in Mexico was 2.9 percent in June 2026, one tenth more than in May, which was 2.8 percent, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) reported yesterday.

According to the National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE), in the sixth month of the year the economically active employed population was 60 million 85 thousand 814, a figure lower by 319 thousand 633 people compared to the previous period, and lower by 83 thousand 751 compared to June 2025.

The largest monthly reduction was in men, since they totaled 35 million 312 thousand 270, a figure lower by 233 thousand 289 compared to May. However, compared to June 2025, it was higher by 82 thousand 4.

In the reference period, the Inegi registered 24 million 773 thousand 544 employed women, 86 thousand 344 less compared to the fifth month, and lower by 165 thousand 755 compared to June of last year.

The total economically active population (EAP) totaled 61 million 879 thousand 403, a monthly figure lower by 241 thousand 790 people, while its annual variation was higher with 48 thousand 361.

Unemployed citizens, that is, those people of working age who did not work even one hour, but expressed their willingness to do so, was 1.8 million individuals, a figure that represented 2.9 percent of the EAP. The rate was higher than the 2.8 percent reported in May and 2.7 in June 2025.

The economic participation rate was 58.8 percent in the reference period, lower than the 59.1 percent reported in the fifth month of 2025.

They are looking for a second job

The underemployed population, that is, people who declared that they have the need and availability to work more hours than their current occupation demands, was 3.9 million people, 489 thousand less compared to June 2025. Thus, the underemployment rate was 6.6 percent of the employed population, a percentage lower than the 7.4 percent in the sixth month of 2025, and lower than the 7 percent in May.

In June, the informal market, made up of people who work outside legal regulations, without tax registration or State protection, registered 33.1 million employees.

Thus, the informality rate was 55.0 percent, a percentage that was higher than the 54.8 reported in the sixth month of 2025, but slightly lower than the 55.2 recorded last May.

Of the total employed citizens (60.1 million), 41.4 million; That is, 69 percent, worked as subordinates and paid in jobs; It meant an annual increase of 91 thousand people.

Meanwhile, 13.1 million, equivalent to 21.8 percent, worked independently or on their own without hiring personnel, and there were 25 thousand more people when compared to June 2025.

By sector of economic activity, services employ 27 million people, and represent 45 percent of the total; commerce, 11.8 million; that is, 19.6 percent. Thus, the sector that contributes two thirds of the Mexican economy continued to employ the majority of the population in the country.

9.3 million worked in the manufacturing industry, which represented 15.5 percent of the total; agriculture, livestock, forestry, hunting and fishing, 6.4 million (10.7 percent); construction, 4.7 million, that is, 7.9 percentage points, and other economic activities, such as mining, electricity, water and gas supply, among others, have 373 thousand registered employees, according to Inegi figures.