Research

Quick Take: Women in the Workforce—Mexico

Jan 14, 2019

LABOR FORCE

Women’s Participation in the Labor Force Continues to Lag Behind Men’s and the Global Average1

In 2017, 44.1% of women were in the labor force, compared to 79.0% of men.2

  • In the same year, women’s share of the total labor force was 36.5%.3

The increase in the number of women in the labor force is expected to be slow. In 2030, women’s share of the labor force is projected to be 37.6%.4

Women Are More Heavily Engaged in the Informal Economy and Unpaid Work

More than half the population is engaged in the informal economy, with women (58.8%) more likely than men (50.1%) to hold informal jobs.5

Women perform more than 75% of duties such as unpaid housework and childcare.6

LEADERSHIP

Women’s Representation in Senior Roles Has Improved for Three Years in a Row7

Women held 34% of senior positions in 2018.8

  • 75% of companies had at least one woman in senior management.9
However, Few Women Hold Board Seats

Women held only 5.7% positions on major corporate boards in 2015, below the 14.7% global average.10

Women Have Made Significant Strides in Politics

Women will constitute 49% of the lower house and 51% of the senate when the congress is seated in December 2018.11

  • Mexico will be ranked fourth globally for representation of women in legislature.12
  • Women will make up 50% of most state legislatures.13

Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo was elected as the mayor of Mexico City, which is one of the country’s most important political positions.14

EDUCATION

More Women Graduate With Post-Secondary Degrees Than Men

Women are 50% of first-time entrants into tertiary education and 53% of graduates.15

Women Are Making Some Advances in STEM Education

Women in Mexico are more likely than the average OECD country to focus their studies on engineering, manufacturing, and construction (11% women in Mexico vs. 6% OECD average).16

PAY GAP

Women Experience a Gender Pay Gap, Especially if They Have Tertiary Degrees

Overall, women are paid 16.7% less than men, based on median, full-time earnings—slightly more than the OECD average of 14.3%.17

Tertiary-educated women who work full time are paid 66% of men’s earnings, 8% lower than the OECD average.18

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Alixandra Pollack, Dnika J. Travis, and Erica L. Lizano, Corporate Landscape in Mexico: Understanding Approaches to Talent Management and Women’s Inclusion (Catalyst, 2014).

Anna Beninger, Today’s Mexican High Potentials at Work (Catalyst, 2014).

Área de Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos, Shadow Report on Employment Discrimination Against Women in Mexico (June 2018).

OECD, Building an Inclusive Mexico: Policies and Good Governance for Gender Equality (2017).

 

​How to cite this product: Catalyst, Quick Take: Women in the Workforce—Mexico (January 14, 2019).

 

2. The World Bank, “Labor Force Participation Rate, Female (% of Female Population Ages 15+) (modeled ILO Estimate),” ILOSTAT Database (2018); The World Bank, “Labor Force Participation Rate, Male (% of Male Population Ages 15+) (modeled ILO Estimate),” ILOSTAT Database (2018).

3. The World Bank, “Labor Force, Female (% of Total Labor Force),” ILOSTAT Database (2018).

4. International Labour Organization, “Labour Force by Sex and Age—ILO Modelled Estimates, July 2017 (Thousands), Mexico,” ILOSTAT Database (2018).

5. International Labour Organization, Women and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Picture (April 2018): p. 116.

6. OECD, The Pursuit of Gender Equality: An Uphill Battle: How Does Mexico Compare? (2017).

7. Grant Thornton, Women in Business: Beyond Policy to Progress (March 2018): p. 11.

8. Grant Thornton, Women in Business: Beyond Policy to Progress (March 2018): p. 11.

9. Grant Thornton, Women in Business: Beyond Policy to Progress (March 2018): p. 11.

10. Credit Suisse, The CS Gender 3000: The Reward for Change (2016): p. 8.

11. Magda Hinojosa and Jennifer M. Piscopo, “Women Won Big in Mexico’s Elections—Taking Nearly Half the Legislature’s Seats. Here’s Why,” The Washington Post, July 11, 2018.

12. Magda Hinojosa and Jennifer M. Piscopo, “Women Won Big in Mexico’s Elections—Taking Nearly Half the Legislature’s Seats. Here’s Why,” The Washington Post, July 11, 2018.

13. Magda Hinojosa and Jennifer M. Piscopo, “Women Won Big in Mexico’s Elections—Taking Nearly Half the Legislature’s Seats. Here’s Why,” The Washington Post, July 11, 2018.

14. Carrie Kahn, “Meet Mexico City’s First Elected Female Mayor,” NPR Morning Edition, July 25, 2018.

15. OECD, Education at a Glance 2018: OECD Indicators: Mexico (2018).

16. OECD, Education at a Glance 2018: OECD Indicators: Mexico (2018).

17. OECD, The Pursuit of Gender Equality: An Uphill Battle: How Does Mexico Compare? (2017).

18. OECD, Education at a Glance 2018: OECD Indicators: Mexico (2018).

  1. OECD, Building an Inclusive Mexico: Policies and Good Governance for Gender Equality (2017): p. 62.

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