Identify job opportunities
There are no simple answers for creating tens of thousands of jobs for repatriated Mexicans. But some lessons can be learned from border cities like Tijuana, which has dealt with deportations for years.
Many repatriated Mexicans in Tijuana have found jobs at call centers that are actively looking to hire bilingual and bicultural employees to serve in the customer service industry.
President Peña Nieto recently held talks with high profile Mexican businessmen to brainstorm ways to create new jobs for deportees. It’s a start, but more work needs to be done.
“We’ve had meetings in the Mexican Entrepreneur Association (AEM) with Mexican businessman living in the U.S. and U.S. businessmen to address many scenarios,” said Eduardo Bravo, a Mexican businessman who sits on the board of the American-Mexico Public Affairs Committee (AMxPAC) lobby in the U.S.
“There’s a series of productive social projects that will take advantage of the abilities of returning migrants,” he said.
Government and industry leaders could also focus on specific sectors such as tourism-promotion agencies and hotel chains in need of a bilingual and bicultural staff.
But Mexico ultimately needs to figure out a way to screen deportees to determine what type of language abilities and job skills they have. By improving data-gathering methods Mexico can learn more about the needs and abilities of those coming back home, and make better policy to respond to the situation.
In short, Mexico needs to get to know its paisanos better.
