The president of Coparmex Tijuana, Elisa Ibáñez Aldana, pointed out that the recovery of employment in the city is threatened by the growing automation and use of artificial intelligence in companies.
The recovery of employment in Tijuana during the second half of 2026 is progressing, but not without clouds on the horizon. The president of the Confederación Patronal de la República Mexicana (Coparmex) in Tijuana, Elisa Ibáñez Aldana, has issued a warning: automation and artificial intelligence are hindering the creation of new jobs, especially in the maquila and export industries, which are key sectors for the local economy.
According to Ibáñez Aldana, the Tijuana labour market shows a gradual recovery after a slow start to the year. Job creation has improved, particularly in the maquila industry, which was one of the hardest hit. However, the rebound is not enough to absorb all job seekers, and automation has become a factor complicating the outlook.
Automation: the new challenge for employment
“Many companies are automating their processes,” acknowledged Ibáñez Aldana in statements to local media. The business leader urged not to accelerate these processes, as “ultimately, the human factor is needed in those productive processes of all companies.” The message is clear: technology is advancing, but it should not come at the expense of jobs.
The medical tourism sector, on the other hand, is generating new sources of employment thanks to recent investments. Ibáñez Aldana highlighted that this industry “is growing and there are new investments,” which provides a breath of fresh air to the labour market. However, uncertainty remains as they await the signing of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States, and Canada (TMEC), scheduled for July, which could give an additional boost to the regional economy.
The risk of informal employment
Another major challenge facing Tijuana is informality. Ibáñez Aldana warned that those who cannot find formal employment may opt for informal jobs, a situation she deemed unsustainable for the economy. “As Coparmex, we will always promote formal employment because we believe that the best social program is formal employment... the risk as a country is that informality grows, which is not sustainable as an economy,” she stated.
The president of Coparmex Tijuana insisted on the need to strengthen the generation of formal jobs with access to benefits as a way to combat informality and improve workers' living conditions. The recovery of employment, although real, remains fragile and depends on multiple factors, from business investment to public policies and technological evolution.
For readers interested in Tijuana's economy, the current situation implies that, while there are sectors pulling the cart, such as maquila and medical tourism, automation threatens to leave less skilled workers behind. Companies investing in technology should consider training programs so their staff do not fall behind. And, looking ahead to July, the signing of the TMEC could be a catalyst for more investments and jobs, although caution is advised until it is finalized.
You may also like
