In Durango, at least 50 percent of professionals work in the informal sector. In many cases, this is because professionals don’t obtain their professional license, as the process is cumbersome and expensive. This puts local professionals at a disadvantage compared to the national average, explained José Alberto Pérez de la Cruz, president of the Federation of Professional Associations (FECOP).
Another factor to consider is that salaries in Durango are between 20 and 30 percent lower than in other states across the country.
The professional leader pointed out that at least 50 percent of university graduates don’t complete the process of obtaining their professional license, or even more, since currently only 30 percent of those working have this document. Therefore, it is estimated that 70 percent of professionals lack a license.
The president of FECOP explained that when they say they work informally, it’s due to two factors: one is that they have their own businesses, and the other is that they are hired without the necessary formality. There are some cases where they are employed by online companies that operate informally. “What we see is that it’s common to work in the state without the corresponding professional license.”
Regarding salaries, he stated that professionals in Durango can earn up to 14,000 pesos per month; when compared to the national average, we see that we are below it.
Pérez de la Cruz explained that the Federation of Professional Associations is also working to promote certifications in different areas. However, it also happens that some professionals, through their associations (some of which are federated), obtain their national certifications, but our work continues to ensure that Durango becomes a certifying body.
Finally, he commented that the health and construction sectors are the ones that are getting the most certifications, however, there are also certifications in the areas of architecture, civil engineering, social work, agronomy, “that is to say, we work in different fields and certifications are a very important challenge for this 2026.
Source: oem
