Manufacturing Sustains Employment in Nuevo León: Which Sectors Drove Growth?

, despite declines recorded in services and social activities. While Nuevo León maintained positive variation, the national labor market experienced a monthly contraction. Mexico lost 19,550 formal jobs in July, according to data analyzed by business organizations using IMSS information.

How Did Manufacturing Prevent an Employment Downturn in Nuevo León?

According to information from Coparmex, during July, the transformation industry maintained a favorable balance in job creation within Nuevo León for the second consecutive month. The manufacturing sector contributed 4,673 new positions, the highest figure among all economic activities in the state. Additionally, construction added 1,100 jobs, while commerce gained 516 positions.

Other sectors also saw advancements, albeit with less intensity. The electricity industry generated 110 jobs, transportation added 121, and extractive activities incorporated 4 labor positions.

However, some sectors reduced their workforce. Business and leisure services lost 2,999 jobs, while social and health services decreased by 2,795 positions. According to the analysis, the decline in social services is partially attributed to seasonal factors related to the school vacation period.

How Many Jobs Does Nuevo León Have, and How Does It Compare to Mexico?

Nuevo León closed July with 1,975,321 workers registered with the IMSS, a figure representing 1.5% annual growth compared to the same month in 2025. Although the annual rate showed a slight deceleration compared to previous months, the state maintained a positive trajectory during the first seven months of the year.

Between January and July 2026, Nuevo León accumulated 34,710 new formal jobs, considering the monthly variations recorded. In contrast, Mexico added 243,078 labor positions in the same period. The national result also shows a recovery compared to the previous year. Between January and July 2025, Mexico had generated 194,788 jobs, a figure lower than that observed during 2026.

Which Companies Drove Job Creation in Nuevo León?

By company size, companies with the largest number of employees recorded the best results during July. Companies with over a thousand insured individuals generated 3,341 jobs, while those with 501 to a thousand employees added 3,332 positions. Likewise, companies with 51 to 250 employees gained 1,743 positions, while businesses with 2 to 5 insured individuals added 519 jobs.

Conversely, companies with 251 to 500 employees registered a loss of 7,300 jobs, representing the segment with the largest monthly reduction. The data indicates that large companies closed July with a positive balance, while small and medium-sized businesses faced greater labor adjustments.

Which Municipalities Generated More Employment in Nuevo León?

Job creation showed varied trends within the state’s municipalities. Apodaca led monthly generation with 1,196 new jobs, followed by Santa Catarina with 1,036, Ciénega de Flores with 918, and Pesquería with 829. Escobedo with 415 jobs, Juárez with 396, Salinas Victoria with 339, and El Carmen with 162 also registered positive figures.

On the other hand, some municipalities experienced reductions. Monterrey lost 2,440 jobs, the largest monthly decline in the state. This was followed by San Nicolás de los Garza with -842 positions, San Pedro Garza García with -740, and García with -656. The concentration of services and entertainment activities in Monterrey explains part of the adjustment recorded during July.

Manufacturing in Nuevo León’s Labor Market

Thus, the manufacturing industry continues to be one of the main engines of formal