Ciudad Juarez factories hit by job shortage

The uncertainty facing the economy of the border city of Ciudad Juarez with the tariff disputes between Mexico and the United States has resulted in a shortage of employment in the local maquiladora industry, said workers.

Workers explained that to find a vacancy in the area's factories, they have to line up in the early hours of the morning outside factories waiting to be one of the lucky ones to be hired for the available positions.

According to a statement from the coordinator of the Border Business Block (BEF) Jesus Manuel Salayandia in February, the border economy, with its high dependence on export manufacturing, has already lost over 100,000 jobs in the northern zone of Mexico, from Tijuana to Matamoros, in the last few months, 45,000 of those in Ciudad Juarez only.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico and Canada, then offered a month-long reprieve on goods that comply with the USMCA, a regional trade agreement.

According to analyst Jose Mario Sanchez Soledad, for La Verdad Juarez, a regional outlet, if tariffs are imposed, maquila production would be unsustainable, and many factories would close, resulting in massive job losses in a region that has no alternative industries.

Trump's tariff threats pile pain on Mexico after a devastating drought last year. Investors were also worried about a controversial judicial overhaul and unchecked congressional power of the ruling Morena party.

According to analysts, Mexico's economy appears on track to contract in the first quarter, entering a technical recession, as Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs wreak havoc on growth that was already weakening.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has insisted Mexico’s economy is strong and recently launched a plan aiming to boost investment and replace imports with increased local manufacturing.