Chihuahua’s leadership in maquiladora industry at risk

Chihuahua, Chihuahua— Chihuahua’s share of export manufacturing employment in Mexico is going down; in January 2011 it was 13.8% and by February 2012 it had dropped to 12.6%, while Baja California is now only 0.5% away. According to monthly statistics on establishments operating under IMMEX Program, prepared by the Mexican Statistics Agency, INEGI, to last February there were 2 million 194 thousand 483 people occupied in the sector all over Mexico, of which 276,504 are found in Chihuahua. The State of Chihuahua has ranked first in employment generated by maquiladorsector for several years, but throughout time it has seen its share of the domestic market shrink. In November 2010 Chihuahua’s share in employment generated by export manufacturing sector was 13.7%, followed by Baja California with 12.2% and Nuevo Leon with 12.1%. In January 2011, Chihuahua contributed with 13.8% of employment, followed by Nuevo Leon with 12.2% and Baja California with 12.0%, according to INEGI’s statistics.