Highest Unemployment in Mexico

Top 100 cities ranked by highest unemployment

Best Mexico Cities

Composite rankings combining multiple weighted metrics — 4 topics from climate and air quality data.

Best Climate Cities

Warm temperatures, plenty of sunshine and clean air.

Cleanest Air Cities

Lowest pollution levels for healthy outdoor living.

Sunniest Cities

Most days of sunshine per year, with warm and dry climate.

Most Urban Cities

Densely populated city centers with the largest urban footprints.

Population & Density

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense

Economy

Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment

Climate & Air

Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities Sunniest Cities Snowiest Cities

Geography & Infrastructure

Highest Elevation Most Restaurants

All Countries · Mexico

Highest Unemployment — Mexico

1 Mecatlán 30 17.8%

2 Manzanillo 08 16.4%

3 El Colomo 08 16.4%

4 Naco 26 15.9%

5 Nava 07 10.9%

6 San Mateo del Mar 20 10.3%

7 Jaltenango de la Paz 05 7.4%

8 Villa de El Carmen Tequexquitla 29 7.4%

9 Tenancingo 29 7.3%

10 Cuichapa 30 7.1%

11 Ixhuatlán del Sureste 30 6.9%

12 Los Zacatones 24 6.5%

13 Dulce Grande 24 6.5%

14 Santander Jiménez 28 6.5%

15 Benjamín Hill 26 5.8%

16 Esqueda 26 5.8%

17 Tocatlán 29 5.7%

18 Berriozábal 05 5.5%

19 Grajales 21 5.5%

20 Copalillo 12 5.4%

21 Tlanalapa 13 5.3%

22 Nanchital de Lázaro Cárdenas del Río 30 5.3%

23 Tlahualilo de Zaragoza 10 4.8%

24 Tlaltenango 21 4.4%

25 Pozo de Gamboa 32 4.4%

26 Santa Ana Maya 16 4.2%

27 San Damián Texoloc 29 4.1%

28 Álamos 26 4.1%

29 Nieves 32 4.1%

30 Ciudad Sahagun 13 4.1%

31 Tepeapulco 13 4.1%

32 San Pedro Piedra Gorda 32 4.0%

33 Chinameca 30 4.0%

34 Villa de Cos 32 4.0%

35 Pemex 27 3.9%

36 La Curva 27 3.9%

37 Cerro Azul 30 3.9%

38 San Miguel Xoxtla 21 3.9%

39 San Francisco Tetlanohcan 29 3.9%

40 Copainalá 05 3.9%

41 Tetlanohcán 29 3.9%

42 Belén 27 3.9%

43 Benito Juárez 27 3.9%

44 Macuspana 27 3.9%

45 La Joya 17 3.8%

46 San Lorenzo Axocomanitla 29 3.8%

47 Agua Prieta 26 3.8%

48 Cananea 26 3.7%

49 Nopalucán 21 3.7%

50 El Rincón Citlaltépetl 21 3.7%

51 La Concordia 05 3.7%

52 El Oro de Hidalgo 15 3.7%

53 Comalapa 05 3.7%

54 Santa María Ixtiyucán 21 3.7%

55 Xaloztoc 29 3.6%

56 Villa González Ortega 32 3.6%

57 Altar 26 3.5%

58 Santa Catarina Ayometla 29 3.5%

59 Sabinas 07 3.5%

60 Peñón Blanco 10 3.5%

61 Cuapiaxtla 29 3.5%

62 Cuajinicuilapa 12 3.4%

63 Tayoltita 10 3.4%

64 Choix 25 3.4%

65 Coxcatlán 21 3.4%

66 Quintín Arauz 27 3.4%

67 Salina Cruz 20 3.4%

68 Paraiso 27 3.4%

69 Tetepango 13 3.4%

70 Cosoleacaque 30 3.3%

71 San José Teacalco 29 3.3%

72 Cardonal 13 3.3%

73 Nacozari Viejo 26 3.3%

74 Tenango del Aire 15 3.3%

75 Fraccionamiento Ciudad Olmeca 30 3.3%

76 Allende 30 3.3%

77 Nacozari de García 26 3.3%

78 Coatzacoalcos 30 3.3%

79 Mundo Nuevo 30 3.3%

80 Lomas de Barrillas 30 3.3%

81 Cojumatlán de Régules 16 3.3%

82 Atitalaquia 13 3.3%

83 Coacotla 30 3.3%

84 Emiliano Zapata 13 3.2%

85 Queréndaro 16 3.2%

86 Villa de Arista 24 3.2%

87 Xicohtzinco 29 3.2%

88 Acultzingo 30 3.1%

89 Ciudad Madero 28 3.1%

90 Unión y Progreso 30 3.1%

91 Arteaga 07 3.1%

92 Villa Unión 10 3.1%

93 Chinampa de Gorostiza 30 3.1%

94 Apan 13 3.0%

95 Escuintla 05 3.0%

96 La Pastoría 15 3.0%

97 Ciudad Miguel Alemán 28 3.0%

98 San Salvador Atenco 15 3.0%

99 Granjas Ampliación Santa Rosa 15 3.0%

100 Zitlaltépec 29 3.0%

Cities with the highest unemployment rates in Mexico face significant economic challenges. Mecatlán has an unemployment rate of 17.8%. These communities often struggle with limited job opportunities, industry decline, or seasonal employment patterns.

High unemployment can have cascading effects on a community, including reduced consumer spending, lower tax revenues, and increased demand for social services. Understanding the causes — whether structural, cyclical, or seasonal — is important for developing effective solutions.

Many cities with high unemployment are actively working to diversify their economies, attract new industries, and invest in workforce development programs to help residents gain skills for in-demand occupations.

Did You Know?

1. In Mecatlán, about 1 in 6 workers is looking for a job.
2. Seasonal economies (tourism, agriculture) can cause unemployment rates to fluctuate dramatically throughout the year.
3. Many high-unemployment cities have seen improvement through targeted economic development and workforce training programs.

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