Labor informality in Colombia decreased, but remains at worrying levels: above 55%
The level of labor informality in the country decreased, but remains at worrying levels, according to the latest results of the Great Integrated Household Survey (GEIH) from Dane.
TL;DR
- Labor informality in Colombia decreased to 55.3% in the December 2025-February 2026 period, down from 56.8% in the same period last year.
- Despite the reduction, over half of Colombian workers still lack full formal conditions, social security, or job stability.
- Significant gender, age, and social disparities persist in labor market access and employment quality.
- Medellín and its metropolitan area show improved formality, with a rate of 38.2%, outperforming the national average.
- Bogotá leads in formal employment with a 33.8% informality rate, while Sincelejo has the highest rate at 68.3%.
- A notable gender gap exists, with women facing greater challenges in labor market participation and access to effective jobs.
- Young people show a slight decrease in labor participation, indicating difficulties in formal job insertion.
- Social vulnerability further deepens informality, with a substantial portion of the working-age population outside the labor force.