Employment, wages, and hours worked increased in several service industries in Mexico during 2024, led by professional and health services, according to new data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). The gains contrasted with declines in employment in media, business support, and temporary accommodation services.
The expansion reflects a shift in labor demand toward sectors that rely on specialized knowledge and personal services. INEGI shows that professional services recorded the largest employment growth among service industries, while health and education also posted increases in both staffing levels and hours worked.
The rise in employment and pay occurred as companies and institutions increased their use of consulting, legal, engineering, and scientific services, alongside sustained demand for healthcare. INEGI reports that professional services added over 93,000 jobs in 2024, bringing total employment in the sector to 740,900 people, a 14.4% increase compared with 2023. The agency’s figures suggest that higher demand for specialized services translated into longer working hours and higher average pay.
Context for the trend can be found in broader changes across Mexico’s service economy. Professional services include consulting, technical assistance, legal services, and engineering activities, areas that often expand alongside business investment and regulatory requirements. In 2024, the increase in staffing levels was accompanied by a rise in total hours worked, which reached 1.542 billion hours, up 19.4% from the previous year. On average, each worker in the sector logged about 1,542 hours during the year, compared with 1,292 hours in 2023.
Higher labor demand was also reflected in income levels. Average annual remuneration in professional services rose to MX$259,000 (US$14,410) per worker, a 6.6% increase from the MX$243,000 recorded a year earlier. The rise in pay followed the increase in hours worked and suggests that income growth was driven more by greater labor utilization than by wage adjustments alone.
Health services also recorded gains, though at a more moderate pace. INEGI reports that employment in health services increased 3.3% in 2024, reaching 628,340 workers. Total hours worked rose 8% to 1.31 billion hours, indicating higher workloads across clinics, hospitals and other health-related facilities. Average annual remuneration in the sector reached MX$118,000, up 3.5% from the previous year.
Education services followed a similar pattern. Employment rose 1.9% to 804,889 workers, while hours worked increased 2.8% to 1.3 billion hours. Average annual pay in education climbed 7.7% to MX$181,000, one of the stronger increases among service industries that posted job growth.
Other segments of the service economy also expanded. Employment in cultural and recreational services grew 6.7% to 223,730 workers, while hours worked increased 12.1%. Average remuneration in that category rose 9.9% to MX$177,000. Real estate services posted a 1.2% increase in employment, reaching 256,617 workers, alongside a 5.2% rise in hours worked. Average pay in real estate services increased 3.5% to MX$177,000.
By contrast, several service industries experienced declines in employment during the year. Media services recorded a 4.7% drop in staffing levels, with employment falling to 165,539 workers. Hours worked in the sector declined 9.2% to 381 million hours, although average remuneration per worker increased 5.6% to MX$492,000, the highest among the service categories tracked by INEGI.
Business support services also contracted. Employment fell 9.2% to just over 1.09 million workers, while hours worked declined 6.9% to 2.78 billion hours. Despite the reduction in staffing and hours, average annual remuneration in the sector rose 4% to MX$209,000.
Temporary accommodation services showed a mixed performance. Employment declined slightly, down 0.9% to 223,730 workers, but total hours worked increased 3% to 5.846 billion hours. Average remuneration rose 21.9% to MX$78,000, the largest percentage increase in pay among the industries included in the report, albeit from a lower base.
Other services, a broad category that includes personal and repair services, also expanded. Employment increased 5.7% to about 1.36 million workers, while hours worked rose 1.2%. Average annual remuneration in this group reached MX$51,000, up 6.3%.
Taken together, the figures point to uneven performance across Mexico’s service sectors in 2024. Industries linked to specialized knowledge, healthcare, and education showed steady growth in employment, hours worked, and income, while others tied to media, support services, and accommodation faced pressure on staffing levels. The data suggests that demand for professional expertise and essential services continued to shape labor market outcomes, even as other segments adjusted to changing economic conditions.
For businesses, the trends highlight where labor demand is strengthening and where competition for skilled workers may intensify. For policymakers, the data provide insight into how shifts within the service economy are affecting employment and income, with implications for workforce development and productivity in the years ahead.
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