The steady increase in trade between the United States and Mexico, largely due
to increased NAFTA-related activity, has caused El Paso-Juárez to be ranked
16th in trade among the largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United
States. Twenty-five percent of all trade between the U.S. and Mexico crosses
through the El Paso/Juárez border. Population increases in the area are double
the national average for El Paso/Juárez combined.
| Maquiladora Industry
in Mexico
|
| Year |
|
# of Employees |
|
Net Value added |
|
Average Wage |
| |
|
|
|
(billions of dollars) |
|
per hour includes fringe benefits (direct labor only) in U.S.
dollars |
1995
|
|
686,985
|
|
4.96
|
|
1.16
|
1996
|
|
801,257
|
|
6.45
|
|
1.21
|
1997
|
|
938,448
|
|
8.28
|
|
1.45
|
1998
|
|
1,036,743
|
|
10.93
|
|
1.94
|
1999
|
|
1,248,030
|
|
13.8
|
|
1.71
|
2000
|
|
1,338,970
|
|
17.3
|
|
1.88
|
2001
|
|
1,201,650
|
|
19.3
|
|
1.75
|
2002
|
|
1,081,730
|
|
18.8
|
|
1.79
|
2003
|
|
1,064,828
|
|
18.6
|
|
1.77
|
2004
|
|
1,131,005
|
|
19.2
|
|
1.72
|
Source:
ciemex-wefa
|