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