The national unemployment rate was 9.5% for the May–July 2026 quarter (MJJ 2026), according to information from the National Employment Survey (ENE), which is produced by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

The national unemployment rate increased 0.8 percentage points (pp) year on year, which was a result of the rise in the labour force (0.7%) and the fall in employed persons (-0.2%). In the same period, the increase in unemployed persons (10.4%) was influenced by the rises in the unemployed with prior work experience (9.4%) and first-time job seekers (20.9%).

The participation rate fell 0.1 pp year on year to stand at 61.7%, and the employment rate fell 0.5 pp to 55.9%. Meanwhile, the increase in the population outside the labour force (1.1%) can exclusively be attributed to the rise in the routinely inactive (1.3%).

For women, the unemployment rate increased 0.6 pp year on year to stand at 10.3%. The increase was due to the faster growth in the labour force (1.7%) than in employed women (1.0%). Meanwhile, the increase in the number of unemployed women (7.6%) can be exclusively attributed to the rise in the unemployed with prior work experience (8.6%). The participation rate increased 0.4 pp to 53.2%, and the employment rate showed no variation, remaining at 47.7%. The number of women outside the labour force showed no year-on-year variation, which was the result of the rise in the routinely inactive (0.2%) and the falls in future starters (-21.6%) and inactive women who are potentially active (-0.8%).

The unemployment rate for men increased 1.0 pp year on year to stand at 8.9%, which was the net result of the lack of variation in the labour force and the decrease in employed men (-1.1%). In the same period, the rise in unemployed men (12.9%) was influenced by the increases in the unemployed with prior work experience (10.2%) and first-time job seekers (54.6%). Meanwhile, the participation rate fell 0.6 pp year on year to stand at 70.6%, and the employment rate fell 1.3 pp to 64.3%. In the same period, the increase in the population outside the labour force (3.0%) was driven solely by the rises in the routinely inactive and future starters.

Fall in employed persons

The year-on-year decrease in the estimated total number of employed persons (-0.2%) can exclusively be attributed to the fall in men (-1.1%) because the number of employed women rose 1.0% in the same period.

According to economic sector, the decrease in employed persons was influenced by the falls in information and communications (-14.6%), education (-3.3%), and manufacturing (-2.7%). According to occupational category, the decrease can be attributed to the falls in formal wage earners (-2.4%) and unpaid family workers (-6.7%).

The informal employment rate increased 0.5 pp year on year to stand at 26.5%. For women, the informal employment rate rose 0.8 pp to 28.3%. For men, the rate rose 0.2 pp to 25.1%.

The increase in informally employed persons (1.6%) can be exclusively attributed to the rise in women (3.9%) because the number of informally employed men fell 0.4% during the period. By economic sector, the increase in the informally employed can mainly be attributed to the rises in transport (8.2%) and administrative and support services (10.2%). By occupational category, the increase was influenced by the rises in own-account workers (2.6%) and employers (30.5%).

Seasonality

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (which eliminates the effects of exogenous seasonal factors of a non-economic nature that influence its current behavior) was 9.3%, remaining unchanged from the previous moving quarter.

Working hours and indicators of labour underutilization

The volume of work, as measured by the quantity of hours per week actually worked by employed persons, decreased 1.8% year on year. Similarly, the average number of hours worked decreased 1.7% to 36.4 hours. Men worked an average of 38.6 hours, and women worked an average of 33.6 hours.

Metropolitan Region

In the Metropolitan Region, the unemployment rate for the May–July 2026 quarter increased 0.3 pp year on year to reach 9.5%. The increase was the net result of the rise in the labour force (0.2%) and the fall in employed persons (-0.1%). According to economic sector, the decrease in employed persons was influenced by the falls in information and communications (-21.4%), accommodation and food service (-7.9%), and public administration (-5.9%). According to occupational category, the decrease can be attributed to the falls in formal wage earners (-4.3%) and informal wage earners (-3.6%).

A New Dimension of Analysis: Duration of Unemployment

In accordance with the guidelines of the International Labour Organization (ILO), INE is incorporating an analysis of the duration of unemployment, an estimate of the number of long-term unemployed (defined as those who have been actively seeking employment for twelve months or more), and the average duration of unemployment.

Starting this May–July moving quarter (MJJ 2026), three new statistical tables on current economic conditions (quarterly and annual) will be added to become part of the regular data releases of the National Employment Survey (ENE). In addition, a technical supplement detailing the estimation methodology has been published.



See:

ENE National Bulletin no. 334: May–July 2026 (English translation)

ENE Metropolitan Region Bulletin 122: May–July 2026 (in Spanish)

ENE Statistical Note, no. 52: May–July 2026 (in Spanish)

New dimensions of analysis no. 8 (28 August 2026): Duration of unemployment (in Spanish)