No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaUnemployment in Costa Rica continues climbing to record highs

Unemployment in Costa Rica continues climbing to record highs

Unemployment in Costa Rica reached 24.4% in the moving quarter from May to July, the highest ever recorded in the country, as a result of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the official statistics agency reported Thursday.

The figure reflects a slight increase from the moving quarter of April to June, when the unemployment rate reached 24%, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).

It also represents an increase of 12.9 percentage points from the same period in 2019.

“These months reflect the state of affectation in the indicators of the labor market due to the measures of confinement and restriction of movement taken in the country in order to contain the pandemic,” INEC said in a statement.

Unemployment in Costa Rica is disproportionately affecting women — 30.2% compared to 20.7% for men, according to INEC figures.

Meanwhile, 24.6% of the economically active population is underemployed; that is, they work fewer hours than they would like. The figure is 14.1 percentage points higher than the same period in 2019.

Costa Rica bets on tourism

Tourism Minister Gustavo Segura indicated that a reopening to international visitors is a way to “contribute to the defense of employment” in Costa Rica.

Thursday, Segura announced that tourists from eight more U.S. states will be welcomed to Costa Rica over the coming weeks.

The United States is the main source of tourists in Costa Rica, comprising between 45% and 50% of the more than 3 million foreigners who visited the Central American country annually before the pandemic.

Tourism “is a sector that generated almost 220,000 direct jobs and some 400,000 indirect jobs last year,” Segura said when announcing the new states.

Trending Now

Why Birders Are Flocking to Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica is a bird-watching paradise, offering an incredible diversity with close to 900 recorded species, including resident and migratory species. One reason for...

Costa Rica’s Poás Volcano Park Reopening to Tourists With Safety Measures

The Poás Volcano National Park will reopen its doors to tourism starting July 30, after  scientific entities reported a decrease in volcanic activity. This was...

Can Costa Rica’s Blue Zone Preserve Its Longevity Legacy?

The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is recognized worldwide as one of the five blue zones, where people live beyond the age of 90...

Costa Rica Court Sanctions Road Official Over Delayed Wildlife Crossings

Costa Rica’s wildlife faces perils, as authorities have continously failed to build wildlife crossings. Nonetheless, the Constitutional Court has taken a firm stance in...

Low Dollar Exchange Rate Threatens Costa Rican Industry

Ten of Costa Rica’s leading business chambers have sent a joint letter to the Central Bank calling for an immediate adjustment to the country's...

Costa Rica Opens New Pedestrian Bridge at Guayabo National Monument

Costa Rica has added a new attraction to its archaeological sites with the opening of a pedestrian bridge at Guayabo National Monument. The structure...
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