Nuevo León generated 19,966 new manufacturing jobs between January and May 2026, accounting for 29.4% of all manufacturing employment created across Mexico during the first half of the year, according to official data from Mexico’s Social Security Institute (IMSS).
The state’s dominant manufacturing performance reflects its ongoing role as Mexico’s industrial powerhouse, driven by nearshoring-related investment in automotive, electronics, appliances, food processing, and heavy vehicle manufacturing. Nuevo León’s job creation nearly doubled that of Jalisco, which recorded 10,513 positions during the same period, and far outpaced other major manufacturing states including Sonora (4,037 jobs), the State of Mexico (3,535), and Guanajuato (3,244).
The manufacturing sector accounted for more than 51% of all formal jobs created in Nuevo León between January and May, with services contributing 10,914 positions and construction adding 8,928. Across all sectors, the state generated 38,566 new formal jobs during the five-month period, reinforcing its status as one of Mexico’s leading economic engines.
Nuevo León reached a historic milestone with 675,000 formal manufacturing workers, the largest manufacturing workforce of any state in the country. The surge reflects broader nearshoring trends that continue to concentrate industrial investment in northern Mexico as companies expand production capacity and strengthen regional supply chains linked to global manufacturing markets.
Infrastructure expansion is keeping pace with employment growth. Spanish energy company Naturgy announced plans to invest more than €300 million through 2030 to expand and modernize its natural gas distribution network across Nuevo León. The commitment, announced following a meeting between Naturgy Executive President Francisco Reynés and Nuevo León Governor Samuel García, addresses rising industrial energy demand and reinforces the infrastructure needed to sustain long-term manufacturing competitiveness.
Naturgy has operated in Mexico for nearly 30 years and currently serves more than 1 million users in Nuevo León. The state possesses the country’s most extensive natural gas distribution infrastructure, with more than 11,000 kilometers of installed network, representing approximately one-sixth of Mexico’s total gas distribution system.
Sources
- Mexico Business News — confirmed 19,966 manufacturing jobs generated January-May 2026, 29.4% share of national total, 675,000 formal manufacturing workers, sectoral breakdown, and Naturgy investment announcement
- Mexico’s Social Security Institute (IMSS) — official employment data cited by Mexico Business News
