Employment in Puebla increased, but so did labor precariousness. The number of employed people increased by 3.9% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026, although this growth has not necessarily translated into better working conditions for the population.
The increase in employment has occurred alongside persistent problems involving informality, low wages and a lack of labor benefits, meaning that having more people employed does not necessarily mean having more people in stable or well-paid jobs.
The situation reflects one of the main challenges facing Puebla’s labor market: generating employment while also ensuring that these positions provide adequate income, social security and labor protections.
According to current economic data, Puebla had approximately 3.07 million employed people during the first quarter of 2026. Of this population, 70.9% were informal workers and only 29.1% were formal workers.
The average monthly salary in the state during that period was approximately 5,120 pesos, with a significant difference between formal and informal workers. Formal workers had an average monthly income of approximately 6,550 pesos, while informal workers averaged approximately 4,530 pesos.
Employment Growth Does Not Guarantee Better Conditions
The increase in the number of employed people is an important indicator for the state’s economy, but the quality of those jobs remains a concern.
A significant portion of the population works under conditions that may include low income, lack of social security, limited benefits and employment instability.
This situation means that the increase in employment must be analyzed beyond simply counting the number of people who have a job.
The challenge is to determine whether the new positions provide workers with sufficient income to cover their basic needs and whether they offer the protections associated with formal employment.
Informality Remains a Major Problem
Informal employment continues to represent a substantial portion of Puebla’s labor market.
The problem is not limited to people who work independently or in businesses that operate outside the formal economy. Labor informality can also affect workers who are employed by formally established businesses but who do not receive all the protections and benefits required by law.
Informal workers generally face greater uncertainty regarding their income and have reduced access to social security and other labor protections.
National government data also identifies informality as one of the country’s principal labor challenges because it is associated with precarious working conditions, lower income stability and limited access to social protection.
Low Wages Affect Workers’ Quality of Life
The problem of low wages has continued despite increases in the minimum wage.
The minimum wage for most of Mexico reached 315.04 pesos per day in 2026, equivalent to 9,582.47 pesos per month.
However, workers in Puebla have pointed out that increases in wages are frequently offset by increases in the cost of food, transportation, rent, services and other essential expenses.
Workers have also indicated that deductions such as income tax (ISR) reduce their disposable income.
As a result, many workers find it difficult to save money, pay debts or achieve personal and family goals.
Workers Report Difficulty Making Ends Meet
Workers interviewed in Puebla have described situations in which their monthly income is barely sufficient to cover basic expenses.
Some workers have reported earning between 7,500 and 9,000 pesos per month, amounts that can be insufficient when housing, transportation, food and other household expenses are taken into account.
The situation is particularly difficult for younger workers and people who depend on low-paying service-sector jobs.
Some workers have said that their income does not allow them to plan for the future, purchase a vehicle, become independent or establish savings.
The pressure created by rising living costs can also force workers to reduce consumption, postpone personal goals or take on debt.
Formal and Informal Workers Face a Significant Income Gap
The difference between formal and informal employment is reflected in workers’ income.
During the first quarter of 2026, the average monthly income in Puebla was approximately 6,550 pesos for formal workers and 4,530 pesos for informal workers.
This difference demonstrates the economic disadvantage faced by people working in the informal sector.
Formal employment generally provides greater access to social security, benefits and greater income stability, while informal employment can leave workers without these protections.
The federal government has emphasized that increasing formal employment is essential for expanding access to social protection and improving workers’ economic conditions.
Employment Growth and the Challenge Ahead
Puebla’s labor market therefore presents a contradiction: more people are working, but many of those jobs do not provide adequate economic security.
The increase in employment is positive for the state’s economy, but the persistence of informality and low wages demonstrates that the challenge is not simply to create more jobs.
The objective is to generate better-quality employment, with adequate wages, social security, benefits, stability and conditions that allow workers and their families to improve their quality of life.
The situation also highlights the need to promote the formalization of employment, increase productivity and create opportunities that provide workers with higher incomes.
For Puebla, the challenge is therefore to ensure that the growth in the number of employed people is accompanied by an improvement in the quality and stability of employment.
Source: oem
