Baja California recorded a labor poverty rate of 16.3% in the first quarter of 2026, making it the second-lowest in the country behind only Baja California Sur. The data, released by INEGI (the National Institute of Statistics and Geography), means roughly 661,000 of the state’s 4.13 million residents earn too little to cover a basic food basket.
Labor poverty measures the share of workers whose income falls short of purchasing essential food items. At 16.3%, Baja California sits well below the national average, continuing a trend that has kept the state near the top of Mexico’s economic rankings for several years.
Per Capita Income Grows 7.4% Year Over Year
Per capita labor income in Baja California rose to 5,126 pesos per month (approximately $256 USD) in the first quarter of 2026, up from 4,775 pesos ($239 USD) in the same period of 2025. That 7.4% increase outpaces recent inflation, pointing to modest real wage gains for workers across the state.
The income growth is consistent with broader economic trends in the region. Baja California’s manufacturing sector, concentrated in Tijuana, Mexicali, and Ensenada, has driven steady demand for labor. The state’s proximity to the U.S. border and its role in the maquiladora industry keep employment levels relatively high compared to southern Mexican states.
Baja California’s Broader Poverty Picture
The labor poverty figures align with other recent data. CONEVAL (the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy) reported in 2024 that Baja California had a multidimensional poverty rate of just 9.9%, the lowest in Mexico. Baja California Sur followed at 10.2%, and Nuevo León at 10.6%. At the other end of the spectrum, Chiapas recorded 66%, Guerrero 58.1%, and Oaxaca 51.6%.
Less than 1% of Baja California’s population lives in extreme poverty, according to BBVA Research analysis of the CONEVAL data. Researchers noted that labor market policies have been more effective than social transfers in driving these results.
What the Numbers Mean for the Local Economy
A low labor poverty rate reflects a tight labor market where wages trend higher than the national average. For context, the national minimum wage in 2026 stands at 278.80 pesos per day ($13.94 USD), while border zone workers earn a higher minimum of 419.88 pesos daily ($20.99 USD). Baja California falls within that border zone.
The state’s economic position has been consistent. In late 2023, the organization México Cómo Vamos ranked Baja California among the top three states for economic development, evaluating labor poverty, job creation, and social progress indicators.
This story was first reported by La Jornada Baja California.