Integrating Care into Industrial Development: An Assessment in Mexico

What would happen if industrial development included the provision of childcare as part of its infrastructure from the outset?

Access to safe, high-quality childcare is a decisive factor in labor force participation, job stability, and economic development. Yet across many productive environments—particularly in industrial zones—care has historically been absent from the design of investments and growth strategies. That is beginning to change. Today, Mexico presents a compelling case study of what’s possible when care and economic policy align.

In 2025, the Mexican government announced two key initiatives: the creation of 1,000 new childcare centers and a $625 million investment in the development of industrial parks. Combined, the two commitments create a strategic opportunity to incorporate childcare into productive infrastructure from the design phase, rather than attempt to retrofit solutions after the fact.

The need in Mexico is clear. According to INEGI, female labor force participation stands at 45.7%, compared to 75.1% for men—a gap of nearly 30% that is driven largely by care responsibilities. Women perform three out of every four unpaid care tasks and spend more than twice as much time as men on these activities.

Despite the implications for productivity and workforce stability, only 18% of companies in the country offer childcare-related support. The result is a structural barrier that limits women’s participation in the labor market.

The Project
Against this backdrop, ICRW-Americas is conducting a preliminary assessment to analyze childcare needs in industrial zones across the country, with a focus on Monterrey (Nuevo León) and the State of Mexico.

At its core, the assessment seeks to answer a critical question: How can care services be designed to be accessible, high-quality, and sustainable within industrial environments?

An Evidence-Based Approach
Our study adopts an exploratory and descriptive approach. On one hand, it seeks to answer a question that has been under-explored in Mexico: how are childcare needs understood and addressed in industrial zones? On the other hand, it draws on regulatory frameworks and existing evidence to contextualize its findings.

The methodology combines multiple sources of insight, including:

• A review of public policies and business practices
• Interviews with companies, childcare providers, and key stakeholders
• Surveys and focus groups with workers

This mixed-method approach integrates system-level analysis and lived experience, ensuring the findings reflect both institutional realities and everyday worker needs.

Beyond Access
We know that access to childcare is shaped by more than availability alone. Proximity, compatibility with work schedules, cost, and perceptions of quality and trust all determine whether services will actually be used.

However, childcare supply remains fragmented and coverage is limited, restricting effective use and, consequently, women’s participation in the labor force. Understanding these dynamics is essential for designing solutions that not only expand coverage but truly respond to workers’ needs.

From Evidence to Action
Investing in care generates significant economic and social returns. In the private sector, studies estimate benefits of up to nine dollars for every dollar invested, driven by improvements in productivity, talent retention, and organizational performance.

However, translating this evidence into concrete solutions requires understanding how these systems operate in specific contexts. This assessment aims to bridge that gap by generating actionable insights that enable progress toward viable and sustainable childcare provision models tailored to Mexico’s industrial landscape.

A Shared Agenda
At its heart, this project rests on a premise that is too often overlooked: care is not only a social issue, but a structural component of productive systems.

Effectively integrating care into industrial development requires collaboration between the public and private sectors and specialized stakeholders, grounded in solid evidence and shared accountability.

This project is not just about an operational improvement. It is about redefining how we understand productivity, participation, and growth.

Read a Spanish version of this blog here: Integrar el cuidado infantil en el desarrollo industrial: una evaluación en México 

About the Author:

Ana María Flores is a consultant working with ICRW-Americas on this project.