Chile’s Unemployment Rises in January 2026

Chile’s unemployment rate rose to 8.3% in the November 2025–January 2026 quarter, up from 8.0% in the prior quarter, a 0.3 percentage point increase year-on-year. This rise was driven by a 1.4% expansion in the labor force, outpacing the 1.2% growth in employment. The number of unemployed individuals increased 4.8%, led by job losers (3.0%) and first-time job seekers (18.4%). By gender, the unemployment rate for men rose to 8.0%, up 0.8 percentage points, while for women it eased to 8.7%, down 0.4 percentage points. In the Metropolitan Region, unemployment reached 9.0% during the same period, up 0.3 percentage points, fueled by a 0.9% rise in the labor force.

Chile’s unemployment rate eased to 8% in the October–December 2025 quarter, returning to the same level as in the three months to January and down 0.1 percentage points from a year earlier. This came as the labour force grew 1.8%, matching the 1.8% increase in employment, while the number of unemployed people rose 1.4%. The jobless rate eased for both genders, reaching 8.5% for women and 7.7% for men. The participation and employment rate increased to 62.1% and 57.1%, respectively. Employment growth was led by administrative services, accommodation and food services, and health activities. The population outside the labour force fell 0.5% over twelve months, driven mainly by a 1.2% decline in the habitually inactive population. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 8.5%.

Chile’s unemployment rate stood at 8.4% in the September–November 2025 quarter, up 0.2 pp year-on-year, as labor force growth (1.5%) exceeded employment growth (1.2%). The number of unemployed rose 4.0%, driven by layoffs and first-time job seekers. Male unemployment increased to 8.1% (+0.6 pp), while female unemployment eased to 8.8% (-0.3 pp). On a seasonally adjusted basis, unemployment rose 0.2 pp to 8.6%.