Three in 10 unemployed Argentines had been seeking work for more than a year, while broader labor market pressure reached 23.7%.
Three in 10 unemployed people in Argentina had been looking for work for more than a year, underscoring persistent strains in a labor market where the official unemployment rate captures only part of the pressure facing workers.
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The unemployment rate was 7.8% in the first quarter of the year, according to Indec, Argentina’s national statistics agency. But an analysis by the Institute of Thought and Public Policies (IPyPP), led by economist Claudio Lozano, found that the broader pressure on the labor market was significantly higher when unemployment and underemployment were considered together.
Using microdata from the Permanent Household Survey, the IPyPP estimated that 23.7% of the economically active population was under labor market pressure. The measure includes unemployed people, underemployed workers and those actively seeking another job.
Cierran más de 30 mil empresas en Argentina bajo la gestión de Milei
Datos del CEPA y la SRT confirman la pérdida de más de 30 mil empresas y 411 mil empleos registrados entre noviembre de 2023 y mayo de 2026.
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Text Reads: More than 30,000 companies close in Argentina under Milei’s administration
Data from CEPA and the SRT confirm the loss of more than 30,000 companies and 411,000 registered jobs between November 2023 and May 2026.
The analysis found that 19% of the economically active population was either unemployed or underemployed. When workers who want to work more but are not actively seeking another job are included, the share rises to 29.4%.
Labor informality was also widespread. At the end of the first quarter, 44.2% of employment was informal, according to the information cited in the IPyPP analysis.
Gender and Youth Gaps
The figures also showed significant gender disparities in employment. The employment rate for men was 50.8%, compared with 39.1% for women, a gap of 11.7 percentage points.
Women also recorded higher levels of labor underutilization, at 21.5%, compared with 16.9% among men, reflecting higher rates of both unemployment and underemployment.
The situation was particularly acute among younger workers. Among people aged 18 to 24, unemployment reached 19.5%.
The findings highlight the gap between the headline unemployment rate and broader measures of labor market vulnerability, with a substantial share of the economically active population either without work, underemployed or seeking greater employment opportunities.
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