The maquiladora industry began in 1965 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico as a response to high unemployment along the US-Mexico border. Ciudad Juarez now hosts over 300 maquiladora plants and is a major manufacturing center in North America, specializing in automotive, electronics, medical, and other sectors. The maquiladora industry benefits from Ciudad Juarez's solid infrastructure and business environment, including its young, skilled workforce and connections to key US markets.