Mexico’s labor market entered March with record-setting employment figures as the federal government confirmed the formal adoption of a new 40-hour workweek. President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced that the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) registered 22,527,854 affiliated jobs by the end of February 2026, marking the highest total ever recorded for the second month of any year.
This growth represents the addition of 157,882 new positions in February alone, bringing the total for the first two months of the year to 217,000. Beyond the quantity of jobs, the President emphasized the quality of these roles, noting that 87.4% of them are permanent. This trend aligns with a broader economic shift; the average daily salary has risen to 665.6 pesos—roughly 20,245 pesos monthly—the highest on record for IMSS-affiliated workers and a 7.4% increase over previous figures.
These gains in purchasing power are reflected in recent data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), which reported that labor poverty has dropped by 3% to its lowest level in two decades. This progress builds on a seven-year transformation of the Mexican labor market, defined by the elimination of outsourcing, a 154% increase in the minimum wage, and enhanced pension and profit-sharing systems.
The most significant evolution in this landscape is the transition to a 40-hour workweek. Achieved through a consensus between business chambers, labor unions, and academic experts, the reform was shaped by 40 working groups involving 2,000 specialists. Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare Marath Baruch Bolaños López confirmed that the legal change received unanimous support from Congress and the approval of 24 state legislatures.
Implementation of the new schedule will follow a gradual path to ensure economic stability. The workweek will be reduced by two hours each year until it reaches the 40-hour mark in 2030. This strategy allows companies time to adjust while strictly guaranteeing that salaries and benefits remain untouched. For employees currently working eight-hour days, the shift will eventually secure two full days off per week.
The reform prioritizes the health and safety of the workforce by aiming to reduce fatigue and workplace accidents while fostering a more sustainable work-life balance. Notably, the new legislation prohibits overtime for minors for the first time. It also preserves existing protections, such as the 200% rate for overtime pay, Sunday premiums, and holiday pay as established by the Federal Labor Law.
As the country adapts to these new standards, 36.1% of workers have already transitioned to the 40-hour schedule. The government continues to monitor the evolving landscape of modern labor, with an official report on jobs generated via digital platforms scheduled for release on Monday, March 9.
Source: presidenta.gob.mx
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