Mexico | Improved employment for Mexicans in the US boosts remittances, +3.8% in May

Summary

Remittances accumulate four consecutive months of growth: February (+1.1%), March (+6.0%), April (+3.7%) and the most recent data for May (+3.8%). In the first five months of 2026, remittances totaled 25,287 million dollars, which represents an increase of 2.8% compared to the same period of 2025.

Key points

• Key points:
• Remittances accumulate a streak of four consecutive months on the rise. In May, 5,611 million dollars entered Mexico, an increase of 3.8% at an annual rate.
• There is evidence pointing to the fact that immigration policy in the United States could have been responsible for the drop in remittances in 2025. Between April and August 2025, a contraction is observed in the labor participation rate of Mexican migrants, which coincides with the sharpest drops in remittances to Mexico during that year. From September 2025 until May 2026, an upward trend is observed in said labor participation rate, which coincides with a recovery in remittances.
• A decreasing trend is observed in the unemployment rate of Mexican migrants, which is favorable for the economy of these households and for their relatives who receive remittances in Mexico. For May 2026, the unemployment rate was 3.9%, a level very similar to the average recorded between 2021 and 2022.
• In the last seven months, a decreasing trend is observed in the percentage of part-time jobs among Mexican migrants. In November 2025, 22.8% of employed Mexican migrants worked part-time days, while in May 2026 this indicator was reduced to 19.0%.

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