Labor poverty declined in Baja California Sur during the first quarter of 2026, making it the state with the lowest labor poverty rate in the country. The improvement was reflected among workers in various sectors, including the hotel industry and public security.
Baja California also recorded a decrease in this indicator, although the change was smaller compared with the same period in 2025.
How Much Did Labor Poverty Decline in Baja California Sur and Baja California?
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), 14.1% of Baja California Sur’s population was living in labor poverty during the first quarter of 2026, the lowest percentage among Mexico’s 32 states.
Labor poverty measures the proportion of people whose income from work is insufficient to cover the cost of the basic food basket.
This indicator is calculated using data from the National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE) and helps assess whether labor income is sufficient to meet basic nutritional needs.
The INEGI report states that between the first quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, labor poverty declined in 25 states. In Baja California Sur, the rate fell by 1.3 percentage points, from 15.4% to 14.1%.
Meanwhile, Baja California recorded a decline from 19.5% to 16.3% during the same period.
The states with the lowest labor poverty rates at the beginning of 2026 were:
- Baja California Sur: 14.1%
- Baja California: 16.3%
- Colima: 19.9%
- Quintana Roo: 19.9%
By contrast, the highest rates were recorded in:
- Chiapas: 60.8%
- Oaxaca: 52.7%
- Guerrero: 47.7%
Nationwide, labor poverty declined from 33.9% in the first quarter of 2025 to 30.7% in the same period of 2026, representing a decrease of 3.2 percentage points.
INEGI explained that this improvement was associated with an increase in real labor income per capita, meaning the average amount of income earned from work after accounting for changes in prices.
However, in Baja California, concerns remain regarding announced changes to the production of the Toyota Tacoma pickup truck at Toyota’s plant in Tijuana, as these adjustments could affect employment linked to the automotive industry.
How Do Salaries in Baja California and Baja California Sur Compare With the National Average?
The INEGI report indicates that real labor income per capita increased nationwide during the first quarter of 2026.
The national average rose from MX$3,402.79 per month in the first quarter of 2025 to MX$3,653.00 during the same period in 2026, representing an annual increase of 7.4%.
Income growth was observed in both urban and rural areas:
- Urban areas: Increased from MX$3,838.59 to MX$4,099.58 per month.
- Rural areas: Increased from MX$1,948.63 to MX$2,093.45 per month.
The report also highlights differences in earnings based on employment status and gender during the first quarter of 2026:
- Average real monthly labor income: MX$8,110.67
- Men: MX$8,795.62
- Women: MX$7,126.15
- Formal-sector workers: MX$11,157.72
- Informal-sector workers: MX$5,751.41
According to INEGI, labor income increased for both formal and informal workers compared with the first quarter of 2025.
How Did Labor Income Change in Baja California and Baja California Sur?
The decline in labor poverty indicates that a smaller proportion of people earn less than the amount needed to purchase the basic food basket.
However, this indicator considers only labor income and does not represent the full measurement of poverty, which also includes multidimensional factors such as access to healthcare, education, housing, and other essential services.
INEGI also reported that the real wage bill—the total labor income earned by all employed people—increased by 17.6% between the first quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, rising from MX$377,409.65 million to MX$443,723.58 million.
In addition, the Labor Poverty Trend Index (ITLP), which tracks changes in labor poverty over time, declined by 9.4% nationwide during the same period.
The figures come from INEGI’s First Quarter 2026 Labor Poverty Report, based on results from the National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE).
In states such as Baja California Sur, job seekers also have access to tools designed to facilitate employment searches, including ChambaChat, a WhatsApp-based platform that allows users to browse local job openings.
Source: posta
