Querétaro Employment: Which Sectors Gained and Lost Workers?

Querétaro Employment Grows with Sectoral Differences

Employment in Querétaro maintained a positive trajectory during the first quarter of 2026, though results varied by economic activity. The industrial, restaurant, and accommodation sectors gained workers, while retail and miscellaneous services saw a reduction in their employed population.

Between January and March, 1,204,000 people were employed in the state, an increase of 11,000 compared to the same period in 2025, according to the National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE) from INEGI.

The main annual movements were:

• Industrial Sector: Added approximately 26,000 employed individuals.
• Manufacturing Industry: Incorporated 17,000 workers.
• Restaurants and Accommodation: Added 12,000 people.
• Professional, Financial, and Corporate Services: Gained six thousand workers.
• Retail: Lost 26,000 employed individuals.
• Miscellaneous Services: Recorded a reduction of 16,000 workers.

Industry Adds Approximately 26,000 Employed Individuals

The secondary or industrial sector increased from 390,000 employed individuals in the first quarter of 2025 to 416,000 in the same period of 2026. This difference represents an increase of approximately 26,000 workers.

With this result, the industrial sector accounted for 34.5% of the employed population in Querétaro. This classification includes manufacturing, construction, mining, and activities related to energy generation and distribution.

The manufacturing industry alone accounted for 24.9% of employed individuals and added 17,000 workers in the annual comparison. This figure confirms the significance of this activity within the state’s labor market.

The remainder of the industrial increase came from other branches within the secondary sector. For companies and suppliers, this trend indicates a greater concentration of workers in productive activities linked to plants, construction projects, and infrastructure.

Restaurants and Accommodation Incorporate 12,000 Workers

Restaurants and accommodation services also expanded their employed population. These activities accounted for 8.2% of those working in Querétaro and added 12,000 people compared to the first quarter of 2025.

This figure is equivalent to an employed population of approximately 99,000 workers. This group includes food and beverage preparation services, lodging, and other consumer-facing activities. Professional, financial, and corporate services also grew, accounting for 10.4% of the employed population. The sector incorporated six thousand people during the analyzed period.

Social services recorded a more moderate advance, with around one thousand additional workers and an 8.2% participation in state employment.

Retail Loses 26,000 Employed Individuals in Querétaro

Approximately 195,000 people remained employed in retail activities. This reduction contrasts with the industrial sector’s growth and shows that employment growth in Querétaro was not uniformly distributed.

Miscellaneous services also reported a decline. This sector accounted for 9% of employed individuals and lost 16,000 workers in the annual comparison.

Collectively, the tertiary sector decreased from 752,000 employed individuals in 2025 to 737,000 in 2026. The gains in restaurants, accommodation, and professional services did not fully offset the reductions in retail and miscellaneous services.

What Do Querétaro’s Labor Indicators Show?

The unemployment rate stood at 2.2% of the economically active population, two-tenths of a percentage point higher than the 2025 figure. The number of unemployed individuals increased from 24,000 to approximately 27,000.

showed a different movement. The indicator decreased from 40.1% to 39% of the employed population. INEGI counted 470,000 people under some form of informal employment, nine thousand fewer than a year earlier.

The critical employment conditions rate increased from 26.5% to 40.2%. This indicator identifies unfavorable labor situations based on a combination of hours worked and income received.

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