San Luis Potosí's Job Scene: What the Numbers Don't Tell You
so here's the thing about San Luis Potosí - the unemployment numbers look decent on paper, but living here tells a different story. The official rate hovers around 3-4%, which sounds great until you realize most folks are juggling two or three gigs just to make rent. I've been crashing here for a month while working remotely, and the economic growth is real - new tech parks, international companies setting up shop - but the benefits aren't exactly trickling down to everyone.
*rent's wild right now. A decent one-bedroom in the Centro Histórico will run you about 8,000-12,000 pesos monthly. That's roughly $450-650 USD, which seems affordable until you learn the average salary here is only 8,000-12,000 pesos per month. Math doesn't math, you know?
I met this barista at Cafetería de la Parroquia who's also a part-time English teacher and does graphic design on the side. "Everyone here has three jobs," she told me while steaming milk. "The tech jobs pay well but they mostly hire outsiders." She wasn't wrong - companies like BMW and Cemex have brought jobs, but locals tell me those positions often go to people from other states with specific technical training.
The weather's been perfect for job hunting - cool mornings around 15°C (59°F) that warm up to pleasant 26°C (79°F) afternoons. Makes walking between interviews bearable, though the summer rains can turn Calle Aldama into a river faster than you can say "paraguas."
Local gossip (because that's how you really learn about a job market): The new industrial park near Cerro de San Pedro is hiring like crazy, but they want bilingual candidates with technical degrees. Meanwhile, the tourism sector - which should be booming with Real de Catorce and Xilitla just a few hours away - is struggling to find reliable staff. Everyone's either overworked or underemployed.
I checked out the job boards on Indeed México and Computrabajo - tech and manufacturing dominate, with salaries that look good until you factor in that lunch alone can cost 150-200 pesos in nicer areas. The gig economy's alive though - delivery apps, freelance platforms, teaching English online. That's where most of my new friends here make their real money.
Safety's decent compared to other Mexican cities - the State Department rates it as "exercise normal precautions," which is basically their way of saying "don't be stupid." I've walked around Colonia Arboledas at night and felt fine, though I wouldn't wander industrial areas alone after dark.
The weird thing? Despite the economic contradictions, people here seem genuinely happy. Maybe it's the tacos de guisado from Mercado de San Luis that cost like 20 pesos each, or maybe it's just that life moves slower. The unemployment crisis everyone talks about nationally doesn't feel as desperate here - people adapt, they hustle, they make it work.
Pro tip from a local: If you're job hunting, learn some basic Spanish and target the international companies. They're desperate for English speakers and the pay reflects it. Also, LinkedIn works differently here - personal connections matter more than applications.
San Luis Potosí's economy is growing, no doubt about it. But like that barista said - everyone's got three jobs. The growth is real, the opportunities exist, but they're not evenly distributed. Still, for a digital nomad or someone willing to hustle, it's got potential. Just bring your adaptability and maybe learn to love carnitas*.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/so-paulo-brazil-the-city-that-never-sleeps-and-neither-did-i
- https://topiclo.com/post/fitness-and-wellness-the-best-gyms-and-yoga-studios-in-donetsk-3
- https://topiclo.com/post/demographics-of-chihuahua-who-lives-here-in-2026-2
- https://topiclo.com/post/wrocaw-neighborhoods-the-safe-spots-the-sketchy-ones-and-why-you-should-care
- https://topiclo.com/post/hidden-gems-in-thanh-ha-that-even-locals-dont-know-about-2