Doyeop Kim, Hannah Uribe
As graduation nears, many CETYS University students already have one foot out the door — not just from campus, but from Mexicali itself. Our recent survey of 55 senior-year students reveals a growing exodus of young professionals in search of better pay, career advancement, and quality of life elsewhere. Despite receiving quality education locally, these future leaders see limited opportunities in their home city. Why does Mexicali fail to retain the very talent it helped shape? What would make them stay? This research shines a spotlight on a silent but serious crisis: the loss of local human capital that could shape Mexicali’s future — if it doesn’t walk away first.
Young, Gifted—and Already Leaving
As graduation season arrives, most CETYS Universidad students should be celebrating achievements, taking photos in their caps and gowns, and making plans to contribute to their hometown’s future. But our recent study tells a different story—one of quiet departure. Many of Mexicali’s most talented university students are not just leaving campus. They’re preparing to leave the city for good.
Our team surveyed 55 final-year students across different programs at CETYS to understand their career intentions and how they view Mexicali as a place to live and work. What we found was both revealing and concerning: over 70% of respondents said they intend to seek employment outside of Mexicali after graduation. Some are eyeing larger Mexican cities like Guadalajara, Monterrey, or Mexico City. Others are looking even farther north—toward the United States.
Why are these young professionals, many of whom have received quality education and support in Mexicali, so eager to leave?
What’s Pushing Them Away?
The reasons, while complex, center on three main themes: limited career opportunities, low salaries, and quality of life. First, many students feel that Mexicali’s job market is narrow and favors technical or industrial careers, leaving little room for those in fields like international business, marketing, design, or data science. “It feels like if you’re not in manufacturing, your options here are really limited,”one student wrote in the survey.
Second, wages were a common concern. Even students who want to stay close to family said that salaries in Mexicali were simply not competitive. “I’d love to stay, but I also want to be independent— and the jobs I’m finding here don’t make that realistic,”another respondent shared. Lastly, lifestyle matters. Some students noted that cities with better public transportation, cultural offerings, and international connectivity felt more aligned with their personal and professional goals.
What Our Data Shows
Accordingtooursurvey:
- 61.8% of students saidthey plantoleaveMexicaliafter graduation.
- Only 38.2%plantoworkin Mexicali.
- Many citedfrustrationwith thelackofjob-matching platformsordirectlinks betweentheuniversityand the privatesector.
Importantly, studentsweren’tjust complaining—theyoffered thoughtful, constructiveideasabout howMexicalicouldbecomeaplace worth staying in. Many emphasized the need for stronger connections between the university and the local business community. They proposedthecreationofmore robustinternshipprogramsthat notonlyofferhands-onexperience butalsoleadtolong-term employmentopportunities. The message was clear: if Mexicali invests in its youth—notjustintheir education, but in their future professionallives—thenmoreof themmightseeafuturehere, too.
From Research to Responsibility
- Findings 1
This isn’t just data. These are real people with real dreams —dreams that often feel incompatible with their hometown.
- Findings 2
As students and researchers, we don’t claim to have all the answers. But we hope this project helps local leaders, employers, and educators reflect on what’s at stake. The students leaving Mexicali are not doing so because they want to abandon their city. They’re doing it because they don’t yet see a future here.
- Findings 3
With better alignment between education, industry, and city planning, that could change. The talent is already here. The question is: what will Mexicali do to keep it?
