New statistics show a very low rate of unemployment in Juarez, but a recent survey of Juarenses reveals a majority are unhappy with taxes and the destruction of the environment:
Even though the national level of unemployment throughout Mexico is high, Juarez has the 6th lowest unemployment of any major city in the country, with only 2.5%, according to data released by the Mexican Social Security Institute (Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social, IMSS). Cities ahead of Juarez with lower unemployment include Acapulco, Tijuana, Leon, Cancun and Oaxaca.
According to the IMSS data, between August 1995 and August of this year, 17,127 new jobs were created in Juarez, an increase of 6.2%. This increase is proving to be an indicator of consistent growth in the employment rate and confirms that Juarez is one of the most dynamic cities in the country, according to Manuel Grajeda Dominguez, a spokesperson for the IMSS. In addition, while the local office of the IMSS insured a total of 270,259 employees in 1995, over the past 12 months this number has increased to a record 293,338 employees, a change of 6.2 percent. In other IMSS data, 61 percent of IMSS registered workers in Juarez were in the industrial sector with the majority in maquiladoras, while 12 percent were employed in services, 9.2 percent were employed in the commercial sector and 18 percent were employed in "other".
In related news, a survey distributed to workers throughout Juarez on September 8 by the First Journal to Condemn the Political Economy of the Government (Primera Jornada de Condena a la Politica Economica del Gobierno), revealed that 66% of respondents feel they pay an excessive amount in taxes and for utilities such as water and electricity. The results were tabulated from 46 out of 75 tables set up to distribute a questionnaire throughout the municipality. Between 4,500 and 5,000 residents responded to the survey, which included questions on 17 subjects related to jobs, heritage and quality of life. According to the results announced by Hugo Almada Breach, spokesperson for the Civic Alliance (Alianza Civica), 62% of respondents were concerned with the destruction of the environment, 56% had experienced a reduction in salary or income in the past two years, 48% were unhappy with their quality of health care or were unable to obtain health care, 41% did not have sufficient or clean food, 40% had family members under the age of 16 who had taken jobs out of necessity, 35% did not have housing, were not able to find housing or were not able to repair their housing, 31% had been robbed or assaulted, and 24% had emigrated or had family members who had emigrated. Finally, in contrast to the IMSS data outlined above, 16% stated they did not have jobs.
Source: Diario de Juarez