Mexican Employment Dynamics: Evidence from Matched Firm-Worker Data

David S. Kaplan, World Bank
Gabriel Martínez González, Interamerican Social Security Conference
Raymond Robertson, Macalester College

Abstract

Using a census of all workers in private establishments in the formal sector in Mexico to track workers and establishments over time, this paper presents the first Mexican worker and job flow statistics. The data allow for comparing these flows across time, space, and worker characteristics. Although many patterns are similar to those documented in developing countries, the analysis uncovers patterns that have potentially important policy implications. The authors compare the results to the literature, illustrate how the statistics change during times of reform and crisis, and present novel findings that contribute to the broader literature on worker reallocations.