The buoyant Jalisco economy is supported by a wide variety of activities and industries, the most important and profitable of which are those of services, commerce and manufacturing. Not to forget that in the last few years, the state capital city of Guadalajara has stood out as one of the best cities in Latin America for conducting business.

The state contributes a valuable 6,4% to the national Gross Domestic Product and the local income is represented mainly by the commerce, hotels and restaurants sector with 25%; by the services sector with 22%; by the manufacturing industry with 20%; and finally by the transportation and storage services at 12%.

The state manufacturing industry concentrates 26% of the state's job opportunities, mostly within the beverage, food and tobacco sectors. On the other hand, never to be forgotten on Mexican soil, tourism represents a powerful engine that impulses the state economy as in 2006 Jalisco welcomed no less than a stunning 20 million visitors domestic and foreign, leaving the state economy some 2,5 billion dollars, an 11% increase as compared with the previous year.

Meanwhile, the primary sectors, agriculture, forestry and fishing contribute as a whole with just 5,9% of the local GDP, though the state is national leader in the production of sherry tomato, Tequila agave, fodder corn, cow milk and eggs, and does well in the production of sugar through the refineries of Autlan de Navarro and Casimiro Castillo.

According to the Population National Commission, Jalisco is included in the list of privileged states in Mexico with the highest rates regarding "Human Development", a reference that takes into account local Gross Domestic Product, education levels and life expectancy, among other considerations. The state population is greatly concentrated in urban areas with 86% of its inhabitants residing in cities, higher than the national average which reports 76%.