Young and unemployed in Mexico

Being young and unemployed is frustrating anywhere, and Mexico is no different from the rest of the world. The global economic crisis struck the country hard, with GDP shrinking 6% in 2009. More worrying still is job creation: Mexico is a young country, and the number of jobs created each month is lagging behind the number of people entering the labor market. Even though the economy has been growing nicely for over a year now, the damage done by the crisis still hasn’t been repaired.

In fact, Mexicans do not seem to profit from the healthy growth figures projected for this year and the next. CONEVAL, a government agency monitoring social development in Mexico, stated recently that poverty is growing in the country, with some 52 million Mexicans now living below poverty level.

Particularly worrying are the so-called 'ninis', short for ‘ni estudian, ni trabajan’, referring to those young Mexicans neither studying nor working. Exact figures are difficult to come by, as a large chunk of the nation’s economy dwells in the informal environment, but most analysts agree that the number of ninis is growing. Some consider the ninis a potential ‘lost generation’ and argue that they are vulnerable to the ambitions of organized crime looking to recruit youths with poor prospects. Others worry that allowing a lost generation of young Mexicans to come into existence endangers Mexico’s future as a leading economic power in the region.

Be that as it may: how do young Mexicans themselves look upon their prospects in a struggling labor market?

Mariana Alarcón Rogel (21) just got her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication at the Universidad de las Américas, a bilingual private university in Mexico City. She hopes to put her skills to good use, as “Mexicans don’t always communicate as well as they should. And not just with the government or businesses, a lot of problems in families can be traced back to bad communication. I want to improve my country by improving communication.”

Unfortunately she hasn’t been able to find work just yet. “The labor market can be unforgiving for young Mexicans who just got their diploma. None of my friends have work, and doing a Master’s Degree is expensive.”

According to Mariana the real problem isn’t the lack of jobs per se, but the fact that well paid jobs in her sector are scarce for the recently graduated. “Companies such as call centers are always looking for people, so if I’d really like to have a job - any job - I could start tomorrow. But those jobs are more for when you’re still studying. I really want something better than that.”

Eduardo Mendoza Estrada (30) from Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, a huge suburb of the capital, has the same problem. He finished high school, but dropped out of preparatory school (prepa), in between high school and university. “There is plenty of work out there, but most jobs are boring and severely underpaid. A really good job is very hard to find, especially if you don’t have a degree.”

Eduardo works as a professional bass player in a cover band and manages a small company that rents out video game machines. Neither job makes him a lot of money, and he has two children to maintain. “Most of my friends have the same problems: they are unemployed and generally dropped out before reaching college. It’s frustrating; you get the idea that getting ahead is impossible.”

Both Mariana and Eduardo have little faith in job-listing websites such as OCC Mundial and don’t expect much from sending their resumes to companies. “It’s tough, because most companies are asking for experience, which I obviously don’t have. And starting salaries are often less than 6000 pesos per month,” Mariana says. Instead, they are turning to friends and family to find work. “Social security is an informal business in Mexico,” Mariana says, “I’m hoping my dad can get me a job. Friends can give you recommendations that help raising your salary when you get your first job.”

Eduardo hopes to work full time in music, but admits there’s not too much money to be made in playing the bass guitar. “I’m good with electronics, so I’m hoping one of my friends might get me into an electronics business or a car-repair shop. I’ve been struggling for a while now, I’m sure something will come in the end.” Mariana isn’t too worried either: “I think there are some good prospects, though I have to admit that, if I haven’t found work in December, I might become frustrated.”