Costa Rica registered a 6.7% unemployment rate in February 2026

Costa Rica registered a 6.7% unemployment rate in the December 2025-February 2026 quarter, with no year-on-year variation, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, although with a drop in labor participation, especially among women.

Costa Rica registered a 6.7% unemployment rate in February 2026

TL;DR

  • Costa Rica's unemployment rate was 6.7% in the December 2025-February 2026 quarter, showing no year-on-year change.
  • The national labor force participation rate decreased by 2.4 percentage points, with women's participation falling by 3.2 percentage points.
  • The total occupied population was 2.16 million people.
  • The main sectors for employment were commerce and repair (16.2%), education and health (11.8%), and manufacturing (10.4%).
  • The number of unemployed persons was estimated at 154,000.