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.

Colombia's unemployment rate fell to 9.2% in February 2026, down from 10.9% in January. Among women, unemployment stood at 9.0%, down 0.3 percentage points year-over-year. Among men, unemployment was 7.8%, up 0.1 percentage point. Over 12 months, total employed persons rose 1.0%, driven entirely by women up 2.4%, while men showed no change. By economic sector, growth was led by healthcare up 8.9%, professional activities up 14.8%, and accommodation and food services up 9.4%.

Colombia’s unemployment rate rose to 10.9% in January 2026, up from 8.0% in December, with a sharp gender gap of 8.7% for men and 13.8% for women, a 5.2 p.p. difference. This marks the highest jobless rate since January 2025. In the 13 major cities and metropolitan areas, unemployment stood at 10.6%. Public administration, defense, education, and health services drove job growth, adding 172,000 employed individuals in January.