Colombia | Employment is accelerating and unemployment stays at low levels

Summary

The national unemployment rate stood at 8.2% in October 2025, the lowest level for an October since 2015. In seasonally adjusted terms, the rate was 8.9%, remaining low and relatively stable since March. Employment growth accelerated to 4.2%.

Key points

• Key points:
• Compared to September 2025, the stability of the unemployment rate was driven by stronger momentum in both employment and labor force participation.
• After several months in which salaried employment grew more strongly than non-salaried employment, the trend reversed in October: non-salaried employment rose 6.4%, well above salaried employment (1.8%).
• National employment increased by 977,000 jobs relative to a year earlier. The main drivers of employment growth were agriculture, accommodation and food services, transportation, and public administration, education and health.
• Job creation was concentrated among both men (+519,000 positions) and women (+458,000).
• The youth unemployment rate fell to historic lows. However, this improvement has a dual nature: on the one hand, stronger employment dynamics—particularly in salaried employment—and, on the other, a labor force participation rate that continues to decline and a high share of young people who are neither studying nor working.

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