Harvest time often constricts the workforce, many leaving to support the family farm or seek migrant- work in California's Imperial Valley. Mexicali is also a way-station for Mexican migrant farm workers. Many Mexicali families have lived in the area for generations, and return from the fields in the off-season. Mexicali has been experiencing increasing growth rates which guarantees an ample, steady and reliable labor pool.

The 1995 Mexican census calculations estimated 224,078 males and 225,237 females in the economically active age range of 15 - 49. Currently approximately 50,000 people are employed in 122Mexicali maquilas.

Mexicali unemployment ranges from 9% - 11%, depending upon the agriculture season. Unemployment in Imperial County is also agrarian dependent, giving it a high average of 15% - 19%.

Larger maquilas have located in Mexicali in the past decade, finding skilled workers while staying close to Southern California and still avoiding Tijuana. Mexicali's literacy rate of 94.4% is above average for border cities, with 81% of its workforce high school graduates and an additional 8% having finished preparatory or technical school.

Mexicali has several college campuses and training schools. Several industrial parks have established training centers to support the operations of their tenants.

The larger operations that promote from within have been successful in keeping their turnover rates down at approximately 5% per month. Agricultural migration during the harvest season contributes heavily to the total community's high turnover.