The value of construction in Mexico has been declining for 17 consecutive months, plummeting 15.4 percent year-on-year in September, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).
According to the National Survey of Construction Companies (ENEC), the downward trend in the sector has intensified, registering negative variations in the year-on-year measurement since April 2024. This has brought it to levels close to those of 2021, before the construction boom fueled by the flagship projects of the previous administration.
Inegi estimated that the value of construction output in September reached 48.86 billion pesos. Civil engineering continued to show the greatest weakness, with a year-on-year drop of 29.1 percent. Building construction showed year-on-year growth of one percent, while the monthly measurement also registered three consecutive declines; September’s decline was 1.5 percent.
Total employment in construction companies remained unchanged compared to last August. By type of contract, self-employed workers (those hired and assigned by another company and paid on a fee or commission basis without a fixed salary or wage) increased by 0.2 percent, while company employees decreased by 0.1 percent (the number of laborers increased by 0.2 percent; administrative, accounting, and management staff decreased by 0.8 percent; and the “other” group—which includes owners, family members, and other unpaid workers—decreased by 2.7 percent).
On an annual basis, total employment in September 2025 showed a reduction of 9.9 percent.
In the ninth month of the year, hours worked in construction companies fell by 0.1 percent compared to the previous month and decreased by 11.2 percent year-on-year.
Average real wages paid were one percent higher month-over-month. By sector, wages paid to blue-collar workers rose 0.6 percent, while those paid to administrative, accounting, and management employees increased by one percent.
In the year-over-year comparison, average real wages rose 4.4 percent last September.
Using original figures (without statistical processing or calendar adjustments), INEGI revealed that the value of construction fell 15 percent year-over-year in September, employment declined 9.7 percent year-over-year, hours worked fell 10 percent, and wages increased 4.1 percent year-over-year.
Source: jornada
