24/06/2026 03:49 - Economia
The National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC) released its labor market report for the first quarter of 2026, revealing that the unemployment rate stood at 7.8%, a marginal decrease of 0.1 percentage points compared to the same period in 2025.
However, behind this apparent stability lies a more complex reality: approximately 1.7 million people remain without work, and informal employment rose from 42% to 44.2%, according to complementary data from private consulting firms.
INDEC's report revealed marked differences across Argentina's diverse regions:
| Region | Unemployment Rate | Context for Foreign Readers |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Buenos Aires (AMBA) | 8.7% | Capital city + surrounding suburbs, most populated area |
| Pampeana Region | 8.2% | Agricultural heartland, central provinces |
| Northwest (NOA) | 7.2% | Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, La Riocha, Santiago del Estero |
| Cuyo | 5.5% | Mendoza, San Juan, San Luis wine and mining region |
| Patagonia | 4.9% | Southernmost region, oil, tourism, and fruit production |
| Northeast (NEA) | 4.9% | Formosa, Chaco, Corrientes, Misiones, subtropical region |
Note: AMBA includes the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) and the Greater Buenos Aires suburbs. CABA recorded a rate of 4.9%, significantly lower than the 9.7% in the suburban conurbano.
Unemployment affects different groups unequally:
Regarding educational level among unemployed persons:
The report also broke down how long people have been searching for work:
Statistical criteria considers someone "employed" if they worked at least one hour in the past week, capturing odd jobs and temporary work.
While the unemployment rate remained relatively stable, informal work continues to climb. According to private consulting firm analysis:
Specialists consulted by Infobae noted that multiple jobs have become common, with insufficient wages forcing many workers to seek a second job to make ends meet.
The unemployment rate measures the percentage of the Economically Active Population (PEA) that is without work but actively seeking employment. It does not include those not actively looking for work or discouraged workers who have abandoned their search. In Argentina, INDEC is the official government body responsible for producing these statistics through household surveys.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
