Colombia has traditionally had of the highest unemployment rates in the hemisphere, mainly due to a lack of development of job-creating sectors like manufacturing and the service industry.
Unemployment in Colombia
Colombia traditionally has one of the highest unemployment rates of Latin America. The difference between the country the rest of Latin america diminished after the 2014 commodity crisis that hit many economies around the world, and particularly South America. Colombia survived the crisis with only a fraction of the increase in unemployment that hit the region.
Annual unemployment rate
Source: World Bank
Monthly unemployment rate
Source: DANE
Colombia’s youth unemployment rate
Unemployment is particularly high among young Colombians. The unemployment rate among Colombians younger than 28 years old was 61% higher than the general unemployment rate.
Source: International Labor Organization
Unemployment among men and women
Unemployment among women in Colombia was 64% higher than among men in 2018. This is particular dramatic among women under 28 whose unemployment rate stood at 24.2% last year.
Source: International Labor Organization
Urban vs rural unemployment
Colombia’s mass displacement and consequent urbanization in the 1990s and beginning of this century have caused a major disparity between unemployment in the country’s 13 largest cities and the countryside.
Source: DANE
Underemployment rate
One of the major problems with Colombia’s labor and unemployment statistics is that if you work one hour a week you already are considered employed. Many people who work informally or part-time may not be registered as unemployed, but can also not be counted as adequately employed persons.
Source: DANE
Regional distribution of unemployment
Source: DANE
Colombia’s labor force
Colombia’s entire population, including minors and retirees, was supported by 51.5% of working Colombians in 2017, while Colombians of working age make up approximately 80.1% of the total population.
Source: DANE
informal employment rate
The majority of Colombians who are employed are not formally employed and thus not receiving the pension benefits that come with formal employment.
Source: World Bank
