SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Job openings in the industrial sector are down by 50% so far this year when compared to the same period in 2024.
Diana Reyes Heredia, president of Tijuana’s Industry Human Resources Association, blames the lack of manufacturing jobs as companies cut back on labor over the uncertainty brought on by tariffs.
“In the beginning of the year, we normally have about 25,000 vacancies for jobs. This coming year we expect to be at about 12,000. This year, we have seen far fewer opportunities,” said Reyes Heredia.
She says the lack of import and export prospects for merchandise and products is really hurting job growth in the region.
“The minimun wage has also gone up and coupled with inflation over the last few years, employers are having to make tough choices.”
According to Reyes Heredia, many companies are fighting back against the 40-hour work week keeping investments down.
Right now, in most of Mexico, including the city of Tijuana, the work week is at least 48 hours long.
“The government is failing to listen to the needs of manufacturers and employers, making it harder for them to stay in business,” she said. “You’re not seeing layoffs, it’s just a reduction in the number of available openings. Companies are not growing or expanding due to the uncertainty in the markets.”
Reyes Heredia added that right now, it’s very hard for young people to land a job.
“We have a new generation of workers, but where are they going to work?” she asked. “There are very few offers of employment out there. There needs to be more avenues of work for them. We have reached a critical point where all this uncertainty needs to be replaced by transparency from government with the industrial sector because in the end, we have the same objective, that is more jobs and opportunities.”
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