Qualified immigration and development in Mexico: Contemporary trends and modalities

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the main changes in the volume, tendencies, and modalities of qualified migration in Mexico during the last years. This information is key to evaluate the contribution of this population sector to the development of the country. The data sources used here are the Mexican Population and Housing Censuses of 2000 and 2010 as well as the Intercensal Survey of 2015. The results obtained show a gradual increase of skilled immigration in Mexico, mainly of professionals from different fields of knowledge, but also academics, scientists, and researchers, who are mostly natives of the United States, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and Venezuela. In terms of socioeconomic integration in the country, the data reveal that the vast majority of this skilled labor is incorporated into the Mexican labor market as employees in the education sector (public or private) and the maquiladora and automotive industries as well as personal services.