Argentina’s unemployment rate reached 7.9% in the second quarter of 2026, slightly above the 7.8% recorded in the previous quarter, though the variation was not statistically significant. The employment rate inched up to 45.0% from 44.8%, and labor force participation increased to 48.9% from 48.6%.
By region, the highest unemployment was registered in the Pampas, at 9.7%, followed by Greater Buenos Aires at 8.2%. The jobless rate was 8.4% for women and 7.5% for men. Among young people aged 14 to 29, unemployment reached 17.1% for women and 14.1% for men.
By educational attainment, the largest share of unemployment was concentrated among those with completed secondary education, accounting for 2.8% of the labor force. In terms of job-search duration, 2.4% of the labor force had been seeking work for more than a year.
In urban areas outside Greater Buenos Aires, the unemployment rate rose significantly, from 6.8% to 7.6%.
