TY - JOUR
T1 - Human Capital Efficiency in Manufacturing
T2 - A Data Envelopment Analysis Across Economic Activity Branches and Firm Sizes in Mexico
AU - Rosales-Córdova, Aldebarán
AU - Carmona-Benítez, Rafael Bernardo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/10/1
Y1 - 2025/10/1
N2 - In a competitive global economy, the efficient use of human capital is a key determinant of productivity, growth, and sustainable development. This study assesses the efficiency of human capital in the Mexican manufacturing sector, with a focus on three strategic subsectors: the chemical industry, the food industry, and the transport equipment industry. The purpose is to analyze how human capital—measured through training, average wages, and daily working hours—relates to firm performance across different branches of economic activity and company sizes. Firm-level data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) for the period 2009–2021 are analyzed using an input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with CCR and BCC models. The results reveal significant differences in human capital efficiency across branches of economic activity within each—micro, small, and medium and large—firm size. Overall, the results highlight the central role of human capital investment in enhancing firm competitiveness and advancing the sustainable development of strategic industries. Policy implications underscore the need for training and wage strategies that improve efficiency and strengthen the long-term resilience of the Mexican manufacturing sector.
AB - In a competitive global economy, the efficient use of human capital is a key determinant of productivity, growth, and sustainable development. This study assesses the efficiency of human capital in the Mexican manufacturing sector, with a focus on three strategic subsectors: the chemical industry, the food industry, and the transport equipment industry. The purpose is to analyze how human capital—measured through training, average wages, and daily working hours—relates to firm performance across different branches of economic activity and company sizes. Firm-level data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) for the period 2009–2021 are analyzed using an input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with CCR and BCC models. The results reveal significant differences in human capital efficiency across branches of economic activity within each—micro, small, and medium and large—firm size. Overall, the results highlight the central role of human capital investment in enhancing firm competitiveness and advancing the sustainable development of strategic industries. Policy implications underscore the need for training and wage strategies that improve efficiency and strengthen the long-term resilience of the Mexican manufacturing sector.
KW - human capital
KW - manufacturing industry
KW - productivity
KW - training
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105020209021
U2 - 10.3390/su17209195
DO - 10.3390/su17209195
M3 - Artículo
AN - SCOPUS:105020209021
SN - 2071-1050
VL - 17
JO - Sustainability (Switzerland)
JF - Sustainability (Switzerland)
IS - 20
M1 - 9195
ER -