Unemployment in Colombia fell to 8.8% driven by self-employment
Piedad Urdinola, director of Dane. Photo: Courtesy - A.P.I.
TL;DR
- Colombia's unemployment rate fell to 8.8% in April 2025, the lowest in over 20 years.
- The quarterly unemployment rate (February-April) was 9.6%, the lowest since 2016.
- Employment increased by 711,000 people year-on-year, while unemployment decreased by 454,000.
- Growth in employment was primarily driven by self-employed workers, accounting for 74.2% of new jobs.
- Despite overall job growth, significant gender disparities persist, with women's unemployment rate at 11.2% compared to men's at 7%.
- The national informality rate remains high at 56.8%, with some cities experiencing increases.
- Job growth was concentrated in sectors like public administration, education, health, commerce, and manufacturing.
- Sectors like financial services, construction, and utilities saw employment decreases.
- The number of people outside the labor force increased by 300,000, mainly among women engaged in household chores.