Chile's Unemployment Rate Rises to 8.9%

Chile's unemployment rate rose to 8.9% for the January-March 2026 quarter, up from 8.3% in the prior quarter. On an annual basis, unemployed persons increased by 3.3%, driven by those who were unemployed (2.0%) and first-time job seekers (14.5%). Unemployment among women stood at 10.0%, while the rate among men reached 8.1%. In the Metropolitan Region, the unemployment rate for the January-March 2026 quarter hit 9.6%. The combined unemployment and potential labor force rate, which includes the unemployed plus people outside the labor force who are available to work or seeking employment, reached 17.4%.

Chile's unemployment rate stood at 8.3% for the December 2025–February 2026 quarter, unchanged from the prior quarter. Women's unemployment was 9.0% while men's was 7.8%. In the Metropolitan Region, unemployment reached 8.8%. The jobless rate declined 0.1 percentage points year-over-year, driven by a 1.0% rise in the labor force slightly below the 1.0% growth in employed persons. The number of unemployed rose 0.3%, led entirely by first-time job seekers up 11.9%, as job losses fell 1.1%. Over 12 months, total employed persons rose 1.0%, driven entirely by women up 2.4%, while men showed no change. By sector, growth was led by healthcare activities up 8.9% and professional activities and accommodation and food services up 9.4%. Labor force participation and employment rates held steady at 62.3% and 57.1%, respectively, compared to the same period a year earlier.

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.