Colombia | Employment creation began to decelerate

Summary

In January 2026, the national unemployment rate decreased to 10.9%, reaching its lowest level for this month since 2001. However, job creation experienced a deceleration, with an annual growth of 1.4%.

Key points

• Key points:
• The national unemployment rate stood at 10.9%, which represents a reduction compared to the 11.6% recorded a year ago, driven by a lower participation rate.
• The number of employed people grew by 1.4% annually with the creation of 324 thousand jobs, a pace significantly lower than that observed in 2025, showing moderation in hiring.
• Non-salaried employment increased by 2.2%, surpassing salaried employment which barely grew by 0.6%, highlighting the dynamism of self-employed workers.
• Sectors such as public administration, education and industry led job creation, while commerce and accommodation registered significant losses.
• Female employment increased by 4.0% annually with 367 thousand new jobs, contrasting with the 0.3% reduction in male employment, mainly in the young cohort.

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