Mexico is recognized as a country with upper-middle income. Listed as the twelfth in the world when it comes to economy, Mexico reportedly has a much lower percentage of salaried citizens than that of the United States. That means three out of every ten Mexicans are either self-employed or employers themselves. Twenty-five percent of Mexico's work force belongs to the agricultural sector while fifty percent belongs to the service industries. Unemployment rate in Mexico is larger in urban areas than in the rural ones and for women than men.
Working in Mexico
Moving to Mexico
Perhaps one reason why many US and Canadian citizens are enamored with the idea of moving to Mexico is that it they only have to drive there by car. Compared to US, Canada, Britain, and other developed countries; Mexico is relatively a cheaper place to live in. For anyone fascinated with Latin America, Mexico might be the perfect place. This is because Mexico, while rich in history, is modernized with better infrastructures than the rest of Latin America. Fresh produce are always available in the Mexican markets which are good for the health conscious. Weather might be something to adjust with for expats coming from cold climates. Some parts of Mexico tend to be hot though during winters the nights are cold.
Job Prospects in Mexico
Many of those who move to Mexico were employed by multi-national companies and assigned to take office in the country. Others who moved in their own could take on different jobs. Since many Mexicans are self-employed, you could also jump in the bandwagon. Foreigners who settle in Mexico usually end up as establishment owners of small businesses such as restaurants and bars. Others become business or IT consultants. If you have a TEFL certificate, you could also opt to choose teaching English as a foreign language.
Typical Salaries and Benefits in Mexico
The minimum wage in Mexico is 16.74 USD. Some of the highest paying jobs in the country is in the manufacturing industry. A plant manager could earn up to about 60,000 USD in annual income. An IT manager, which is a usual job for an expat in Mexico, has an average annual income of 24,000 USD. With regards to industry, Non-profit Organizations pay their employees the highest. Firms are required to share 10% of their annual earnings with their employees. There are seven paid legal holidays in Mexico plus paid vacations which lengths are dependent upon the seniority of the employee. Employees are also entitled to Social Security and retirement insurance.
Basic Data on Taxes in Mexico
Taxes in Mexico are exacted by Mexico's federal government. These include income tax as well as taxes on assets owned, value added tax, taxes on imported and exported goods, and taxes on payroll, retirement, social security, plus the required National Workers' Housing Fund contribution.
High Demand Jobs in Mexico
The IT, service, agriculture and manufacturing sectors are four industries with high employment demand. If you are not planning on setting up a business yourself and you don't belong to any of the mentioned industries, you might want to try your hand at teaching. If you hold a TEFL certificate, you can easily get a post teaching English as a foreign language. This is because learning English is an absolute necessity for Mexicans who want to become professionals. Medical and nursing jobs are also currently becoming in-demand.
Immigration and Visa Issues in Mexico
To legally work in Mexico, you will need a permit which will be provided for you if you're being recruited by a company. If you want to live in Mexico however, you will need to get an Immigrant permit. You could be granted full residency in Mexico even without giving up your citizenship. Full residency means you will be given all of the rights a natural-born Mexican has except the right to vote during the elections. Full residency could only be granted if you had stayed in the country for more than 180 days.
Best Job Locations in Mexico
Mexico is a big country and if you were not commissioned by a company to work there, you would have to decide on your own where to live. Expats could choose to live in urban areas where companies are numerous and opportunities are just as many. Here's the caveat: because of the high density population in the cities, unemployment rate is also high. If you decide to teach English for a living, move to an area with many private schools.
Find Jobs via Websites in Mexico
Work in Mexico: Jobs Abroad, Mexican International Employment Opportunities Abroad
A directory of jobs
Trabajos en Mexico | bumeran.com
A listing of available jobs in Mexico (Spanish)
Mexico Jobs in Mexico Job Search.
A listing of open jobs in Mexico
Summer Jobs, Overseas Jobs, Resort Jobs, Intern Jobs, Employment and Internships
An international job board with listings for Mexico
Medical and Nursing jobs in Mexico - MedHunters
Medical-related and nursing jobs in Mexico
Employment sites in Mexico > Jobs in Mexico
A directory of jobs in Mexico