Work and productivity in Mexico
Mexico is the country with the most hours worked among the 38 members of the OECD. Between 2023 and 2025, the annual average decreased 0.5% to 2,299 hours per worker. The figure exceeds the block average by almost 600 hours, which was 1,705 hours annually in 2025.
Costa Rica and Chile follow on the list, while European countries such as Germany, Denmark and Sweden work between 900 and 1,000 hours less.
“The decline in hours worked can be explained by several factors, including gains in productivity, changes in workers’ preferences towards less overtime or part-time work, changes in working time regulations or collective agreements,” the OECD noted.
Despite the long hours, Mexican labor productivity grew 1.96% between 2023 and 2024, compared to the 0.62% OECD average. This advance exceeded that recorded between 2019 and 2023. Ireland, Poland, Denmark, Latvia and the United States also stood out.
“Recent productivity gains in Mexico have occurred along with a reduction in hours worked,” the agency indicated.
Real wages also show a positive trend. In the first quarter of 2026, they were 15.1% above the level of the first quarter of 2021, well above the 1.2% OECD average. The minimum wage has doubled since January 2021, with a real increase of 68%.
“Real wages in Mexico have continued to grow strongly,” highlighted the OECD in its Employment Outlook 2026 report.
Last May, the unemployment rate in Mexico was 2.7%, the second lowest among the countries in the bloc, only behind Japan. However, the OECD warns that in the 38 countries as a whole there are signs of weakening in job creation and, given the high energy prices, a decrease in real wages is expected.
