A job fair in Tijuana drew more than 2,000 people on Sunday, far exceeding the 300 attendees organizers had expected. Lines formed as early as 6:30 a.m. in the Las Delicias I neighborhood, where recruitment company TECMA hosted the event. The fair focused on positions in Tijuana’s maquiladora sector, the cross-border manufacturing industry that employs tens of thousands of residents.
Turnout stayed strong for hours. The crowd only thinned after 10 a.m. Many attendees said they learned about the fair through social media and announcements at local swap meets around the city. People arrived with documents in hand and hoped to advance through the selection process on the spot.
Job seekers described real barriers to landing work. One attendee, Juan Carlos, said he had been searching since January. “There are jobs, but if you don’t have the right education it’s harder,” he said. “They ask for middle school, they ask for high school. And on top of that, companies are closing, so there are fewer openings. ” Another attendee, Victoria, said she had spent three months looking for work. “A lot of people are here,” she said. “My understanding is that today is just a screening step before actual hiring starts. “
The turnout reflects strong demand for stable employment in Tijuana’s manufacturing sector, and it signals real pressure in the local labor market. Maquiladoras, factories that import materials duty-free and export finished goods, form the backbone of Tijuana’s economy. When hiring slows or plants close, the effects ripple quickly through working-class neighborhoods across the city.
TECMA did not release figures on how many positions it was filling or which industries were represented at the fair. It is not yet clear how many attendees will advance to formal interviews or receive job offers.
Source: jornadabc.com.mx