Chile's unemployment holds at 8.3% as job growth led by women

Despite shifts in workforce composition and job creation, Chile’s unemployment rate held steady at 8.3% for the December 2025–February 2026 quarter.

The rate edged down by 0.1 percentage points from a year earlier, according to the latest data, pointing to a marginal improvement on an annual basis.

This modest decline came alongside a 1.0% increase in the labour force and a matching 1.0% rise in employment, indicating a balanced pace of job absorption.

While the headline figure remained unchanged, the underlying composition of employment and unemployment showed notable differences across gender, sectors, and regions.

Gender gap persists as women drive employment gains

The unemployment rate for women remained higher than for men, at 9.0% versus 7.8%.

Despite this gap, women accounted for all net job creation over the past year.

Total employment rose 1.0% over the 12-month period, driven entirely by a 2.4% increase in female employment, while male employment was broadly unchanged.

This dynamic points to a labour market increasingly supported by women’s participation, even as structural disparities persist.

Meanwhile, the number of unemployed people rose by 0.3%, indicating a slight increase in absolute terms.

This uptick was driven entirely by first-time job seekers, which rose by 11.9%, suggesting stronger labour force entry rather than widespread job losses.

In contrast, job separations declined by 1.1%, reinforcing the view that labour market conditions are stabilising rather than deteriorating.

Sectoral growth concentrated in services and healthcare

Employment gains were uneven across sectors, with services-related industries leading the expansion.

Healthcare employment increased by 8.9%, reflecting sustained demand in the sector.

Professional services, along with accommodation and food services, grew by 9.4%, highlighting continued strength in consumer-facing and service-oriented segments.

These sectors helped offset weaker or stagnant hiring in other parts of the economy, supporting overall employment growth.

Regional disparities remain evident

Geographical differences in labour market conditions persisted.

The Metropolitan Region, Chile’s largest economic hub, recorded an unemployment rate of 8.8%, slightly above the national average.

This suggests that, despite stable national indicators, labour market pressures may be more pronounced in urban areas.

Participation and employment rates hold steady

Key labour market indicators showed limited movement over the year.

The employment rate stood at 57.1%, while the labour force participation rate was 62.3%, both broadly unchanged from a year earlier.

This stability suggests that overall labour market participation has plateaued, with neither a significant influx of new entrants nor a notable decline in employment.

Balanced growth signals cautious outlook

Chile’s labour market appears to be in a state of equilibrium, with employment growth keeping pace with labour force expansion and limiting upward pressure on unemployment.

However, the underlying details point to a more nuanced picture.

Employment gains concentrated among women and in service sectors highlight ongoing structural shifts, while the rise in first-time job seekers reflects increasing labour supply.

At the same time, persistent gender and regional disparities, along with stagnant male employment, indicate that the recovery remains uneven.

Overall, the steady unemployment rate points to a stable labour market, though underlying dynamics suggest its trajectory could shift in the months ahead.