According to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune, business is looking up for maquiladora factories in Mexico. After surviving the loss of nearly 300,000 jobs nationwide, Mexico is reaping the benefits of U.S. economic recovery, with new and expanding manufacturing companies now seeking workers to fill 18,000 job openings.

The maquiladora program allows foreign manufacturers to ship components into Mexico duty-free for assembly and subsequent re-export. Industry established under the maquiladora program is Mexico's second largest source of foreign revenue (following oil exports).

According to the article, employers are increasing worker benefits and wages to fill the new demand for factory workers—with some companies even going door-to-door to find applicants.

Demand for engineers and technicians is especially high since many Mexican factories survived the economic downturn by turning to more sophisticated processes to manufacture advanced products in the electronics, automotive and medical industries.

The more sophisticated manufacturing activities mean higher salaries for qualified workers—with wages for engineers now reaching $20,000-$40,000 a year. Companies are struggling to find college graduates and other workers that they can educate for the newly available highly skilled positions.

While the electronics, automotive, aerospace and medical parts factories that seek the workers are unable to predict whether or how long the economic rebound will last, the companies understand the importance of recruiting and training workers now in the high-tech skills that are increasingly required.

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