By Octavio Rivas López

Area Director in the Unit of
Youth Building the Future Program (STPS)

Mexican youth face a persistent paradox: they constitute the demographic group with the greatest transformative potential and, at the same time, are among the most vulnerable in terms of educational, labor, and social inclusion. In the Valley of Mexico, this tension is particularly pronounced due to the complexity of the urban environment, population density, and the structural inequalities that permeate the region.

Young people between the ages of 18 and 29 face numerous barriers to continuing their studies at the upper secondary and higher education levels, as well as to accessing stable, decent, and well-paid jobs. These barriers are not only individual but also stem from systemic dynamics such as the precariousness of the labor market, educational segmentation, discrimination based on gender or social status, and a growing disconnect between academic training and the demands of the productive sector. Furthermore, the current socioeconomic environment, marked by violence, inequality, informality, and uncertainty, presents a very different scenario from that faced by previous generations. The promise of social mobility through education and work has weakened, and many young people perceive that their efforts are not translating into tangible improvements in their quality of life.

In 2025, the Mexico City Metropolitan Area will be home to 3.6 million young people between the ages of 18 and 29*. Of these, 1.76 million are exclusively employed (49%), 994,000 attend school exclusively (27%), 306,000 combine work and study (8%), and 517,000 are neither studying nor working for pay (14%). This last group—often referred to as the NEET population, a stigmatizing term—deserves special attention. Of these young people, seven out of ten perform caregiving and household chores, mostly women; 28% are actively seeking employment; and less than 2% are in the process of defining their vocational or personal path. On the other hand, among those who are employed, half (50.51%) work in the informal sector, which means they lack a contract, social benefits, legal security, and access to healthcare. Informal employment not only violates rights but also limits opportunities for professional and personal development and exacerbates inequality.

Although most labor and education indicators in the Valley of Mexico show more favorable performance than the national averages—such as the proportion of young people who are neither studying nor working, which is six percentage points lower than the national level of 20.61%—structural gaps persist that limit the full inclusion of young people in the socioeconomic environment. The youth unemployment rate in the Metropolitan Area is 6.61%, higher than the national average of 5.11%, which demonstrates additional pressure on those seeking to enter the labor market. This is compounded by the feminization of unpaid work, which reproduces gender inequalities and restricts the economic autonomy of young women, especially in an environment where caregiving tasks are undervalued and under-redistributed. The disconnect between educational offerings and the demands of the productive sector generates demotivation, frustration, and school dropout, while informal employment hinders the development of stable professional careers with a future-oriented perspective.

On the other hand, the urban environment imposes specific challenges that aggravate exclusion due to high transportation costs, insecurity in public spaces, saturation of educational services, and a job market that, although extensive, is inaccessible to those who live in peripheral areas or lack effective support networks.

The magnitude of these challenges demands an interinstitutional, multisectoral, and territorially differentiated response that prioritizes effective coordination between education systems and the labor market. It is essential that, upon graduation, young people possess the necessary skills and conditions to integrate into the workforce in a dignified and productive manner. Likewise, it is fundamental to promote care policies with a gender perspective that recognize, value, and redistribute the domestic and caregiving tasks performed by young women, so that they can exercise their right to decide on their entry into employment and their professional development.

Furthermore, given the complex social landscape, it is essential to strengthen vocational guidance, mental health, and psychosocial support services to prevent school and work dropout. This must be based on the full recognition of youth diversity and the implementation of actions that prioritize the most vulnerable areas, while also ensuring the active inclusion of historically marginalized groups, such as Indigenous youth, migrants, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Fortunately, in recent years both local and federal governments have focused their attention on the challenges facing young people and have taken steps to reverse structural inequalities and promote more equitable and sustainable environments. While the road ahead remains long and complex, it is everyone's responsibility to continue moving forward with determination and shared responsibility.

Young people are key players in building a fairer, more inclusive, and more resilient future. Recognizing their agenda, listening to their voices, and creating conditions for their full development is more than a technical or administrative task; it is an ethical imperative that challenges all institutions and society as a whole.

(*) All data presented here were calculated based on the National Survey of Occupation and Employment by INEGI, for the second quarter of 2025. https://www.inegi.org.mx/programas/enoe/15ymas/