Mexican Congress urges action on youth unemployment exceeding 15 million

Mexico's Congress has called for a comprehensive strategy to combat soaring youth unemployment, highlighting that over 15 million young people between the ages of 15 and 29 are jobless. The Permanent Commission urged the Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS), its 32 state-level counterparts, and the National Employment Service to bolster policies and programs aimed at reversing this trend.

The resolution emphasizes the critical need for federal and state governments to establish effective labor intermediation and linkage mechanisms. These initiatives are intended to specifically assist young people and vulnerable populations in securing their first jobs. The challenge of accessing initial employment is recognized as a major hurdle for this demographic, perpetuating a cycle that excludes many from formal employment.

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), in the first quarter of 2025, Mexico had 30.4 million young people aged 15 to 29. Of these, 15.9 million were part of the economically active population, representing 26.3 percent of the country's total workforce. However, job creation has not kept pace with the influx of young people entering the productive sector.

A diagnosis of Mexico's labor gap for 2025-2026 revealed that by the first quarter of 2026, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) reported the creation of only 207,604 jobs. This figure falls significantly short of the number needed to absorb the young population entering the workforce formally, underscoring the urgency of the situation.