No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCosta Rica unemployment falls but remains at historic levels

Costa Rica unemployment falls but remains at historic levels

Unemployment in Costa Rica was 21.3% in the moving quarter from September to November, a historically high level as a result of the pandemic, although the figure is slightly lower than the immediately preceding quarter.

The index continued the slight improvements characterized by recent months. From August to October, unemployment was 21.9%, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).

At the same time, the most recent data represent an unemployment rate that is 8.8 percentage points larger than during the same period in 2019, the INEC indicated.

The agency pointed out that unemployment especially affects women — 28.1% unemployment, compared to 16.8% for men.

Unemployment in Costa Rica was 12% in March 2020, one of the highest levels recorded by the country to date, but it soared to 24% in the May-July quarter as the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Since then, it has gradually fallen, but unemployment still remains far above the pre-pandemic levels.

María Luz Sanarrusia, coordinator of the INEC employment survey, noted that the commerce and services sectors were those that had the greatest job losses due to the pandemic.

The official added that the pandemic also caused an increase in underemployment, which is at 22%, due to the fact that many people had reduced working hours.

Underemployment refers to people who work less than 40 hours a week and are available to work more.

Popular Articles

Costa Rica’s May Beetles Vanish, Signaling Ecological Crisis

In Costa Rica, the iconic “May beetles” (abejones de mayo), known scientifically as the Phyllophaga genus, are vanishing at an alarming rate. These beetles,...

Living in Costa Rica as an Expat Isn’t Perfect—But It’s Better Than You Think

Anyone who has lived here more than a few months is well aware of the myriad problems present in 21st century Costa Rica: Violent...

Historic Election of First American Pope: Cardinal Robert Prevost Becomes Leo XIV

In a groundbreaking moment for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born prelate, was elected as the first pope from the United...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles