No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaUnemployment in Costa Rica rose to 12.4% at the end of 2019

Unemployment in Costa Rica rose to 12.4% at the end of 2019

Unemployment in Costa Rica grew to 12.4% at the end of 2019 and is one of the highest in Latin America, the country’s official statistics agency said Thursday.

The figure for the last quarter of last year slightly exceeds the 12% unemployment registered in the last quarter of 2018, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).

Unemployment especially affects women — it reached 16.7% of the female labor force, while among men it reached 9.6%, according to the INEC report.

The report said the figures represent 309,000 unemployed people in Costa Rica, a country with a population of 5 million.

The statistical agency said that 46.5% of the working-age population is in a condition of informal employment; that is, they perform jobs without being registered with the State and without contributing to social security.

Likewise, 11% are in a condition of underemployment, which means they work fewer hours than they would like.

Trending Now

Cost of living in Costa Rica from a U.S. Expat

Paradise doesn’t come cheap. Cars, gas, appliances, phones, TVs often cost more in Costa Rica. But not everything. Here’s a simple, like-for-like look at...

Costa Rica’s Nayara Springs Named Among World’s Best Hotels by MICHELIN

Nayara Springs, a secluded adults-only resort near Arenal Volcano National Park, has claimed the highest spot in the MICHELIN Guide's new hotel rankings. The...

Costa Rican Hotels Warn of Job Risks Amid Drop in Tourists

Hotels across Costa Rica face mounting pressures as tourist numbers dip and a sluggish dollar exchange rate eats into their earnings. From January to...

White House Calls Nobel Prize to Venezuelan Machado ‘Politics Over Peace’

The Norwegian Nobel Committee handed the 2025 Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Friday, sparking sharp words from the White...

Costa Rica’s Hyatt Centric Escazú Finalist in GRI Awards

Costa Rica's hotel scene keeps building momentum on the global stage. The Hyatt Centric San José Escazú stands out as a finalist for Best...

Costa Rica Ranger Trapped After Falling off Cliff on Cocos Island

Rescue teams in Costa Rica continue their efforts to save a park ranger who fell down a 40-meter cliff on Isla del Coco. The...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica