Revisiting Classic Needs Theory: Does Maslow Explain Mexico’s Maquiladora Workers’ Needs?

Maslow’s hierarchical theory of needs has considerably influenced additional research streams that base needs as forces of human behavior. While the applicability of Maslow’s hierarchy has been scrutinized throughout the needs research, it still stands as the most researched and most cited needs theory in existence. The purpose of this recent attention to a needs theory is to “test†the applicability of Maslow’s Hierarchy to a sample of maquiladora workers and their needs. A qualitative field study was conducted to discover the applicability of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to the needs of maquiladora workers. Semi structured interviews with open-ended questions were used in gathering responses from lower-level maquiladora workers. Content analysis was used. According to the qualitative results, Maslow’s Hierarchy does not explain the needs of lower-level maquiladora workers. In addition, actual needs based on the interviews were uncovered and discussed. Keyword: Maquiladoras, Maslow's hierarchy, needs theory, Mexican workers.