In August, the unemployment rate stood at 9.4%, up from 8.6% in August 2025, interrupting the year-on-year declines observed month after month over the past two years. Meanwhile, employment fell by 0.5% year-on-year, equivalent to a loss of 126,000 jobs.

Colombia’s economy will grow 2.6% in 2026, ease to 2.3% in 2027, and rebound to 3.1% in 2028. The 2027 slowdown will be temporary as growth shifts from public to private-sector support, which will strengthen in 2028. Fiscal imbalances and inflation remain the key challenges ahead.