Colombia’s unemployment rate fell to 8.0% in May 2026 from 8.8% in the previous month, remaining below market expectations of 8.9% and marking the lowest reading for the month of May since 2001. The unemployment rate for women stood at 9.9%, while the rate for men was 6.6%, resulting in a gender gap of 3.3 percentage points. The number of unemployed people declined by 203,000 from a year earlier. The sharpest drop was recorded in rural areas and small population centers, where unemployment fell 30.5%, followed by the 13 main cities and metropolitan areas, where it declined 4.4%. For the rolling March–May 2026 period, the national unemployment rate averaged 8.5%. source: Dane, Colombia

Unemployment Rate in Colombia decreased to 8 percent in May from 8.80 percent in April of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Colombia averaged 11.48 percent from 2001 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 21.01 percent in May of 2020 and a record low of 7.00 percent in November of 2025. This page provides the latest reported value for - Colombia Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Colombia Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Colombia decreased to 8 percent in May from 8.80 percent in April of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Colombia is expected to be 8.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Colombia Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 8.80 percent in 2027 and 8.50 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-29 03:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 8.8% 8.8% 8.8% 8.5%
2026-06-30 03:20 PM
Unemployment Rate
May 8% 8.8% 8.9% 8.9%
2026-07-31 03:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Jun 8% 8.50%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employment Rate 59.73 59.06 percent May 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 64.90 64.70 percent May 2026
Unemployed Persons 2143.66 2337.12 Thousand May 2026
Unemployment Rate 8.00 8.80 percent May 2026


Colombia Unemployment Rate
In Colombia, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
8.00 8.80 21.01 7.00 2001 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
Colombia Jobless Rate Drops in May
Colombia’s unemployment rate fell to 8.0% in May 2026 from 8.8% in the previous month, remaining below market expectations of 8.9% and marking the lowest reading for the month of May since 2001. The unemployment rate for women stood at 9.9%, while the rate for men was 6.6%, resulting in a gender gap of 3.3 percentage points. The number of unemployed people declined by 203,000 from a year earlier. The sharpest drop was recorded in rural areas and small population centers, where unemployment fell 30.5%, followed by the 13 main cities and metropolitan areas, where it declined 4.4%. For the rolling March–May 2026 period, the national unemployment rate averaged 8.5%.
2026-06-30
Colombia Jobless Rate Unchanged at 8.8%
Colombia’s national unemployment rate stood at 8.8% in April 2026, unchanged from the previous month and in line with forecasts. The unemployment rate for women was 10.9%, compared with 7.1% for men, resulting in a gender gap of 3.8 percentage points. In the country’s 13 main cities and metropolitan areas, the unemployment rate also stood at 8.8%. The number of unemployed people nationwide increased by 67,000 from a year earlier, a 3% rise, mainly driven by smaller urban areas and rural centers, where unemployment rose 8%. During the February-April 2026 rolling quarter, the national unemployment rate averaged 8.9%.
2026-05-29
Colombia Jobless Rate Falls in March
Colombia’s unemployment rate fell to 8.8% in March 2026, down from 9.2% in February. Job gains were driven mainly by public administration and defense, education and health services, financial and insurance activities, and utilities, including electricity, gas, water, and waste management. In the country’s 13 main cities and metropolitan areas, the unemployment rate stood at 9.4%, slightly higher than the 9.3% recorded in the same month of 2025.
2026-04-30