Argentina informal work spikes as Chile salmon sector plans job boost

Argentina’s latest labour statistics show a sharp rise in informal employment. The National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) reports that the share of workers in the informal (or "black") sector grew to 44% of the labour force between the first quarter of 2024 and the same period in 2026, adding more than 600,000 new informal workers. The increase follows the loss of about 539,000 formal jobs, while the unemployment rate rose to 7.8% and sub‑employment to 11.2%.

In Chile, the Salmon Council released a report outlining four regulatory measures it says could raise salmon‑industry employment by up to 8%. The proposals are projected to generate between 1,800 and 5,400 new formal jobs across the southern regions of Los Lagos, Aysén and Magallanes, and could lift regional salmon‑related employment by as much as 7‑8% while boosting production by 4‑8%. The council argues the steps would improve the use of existing concessions and stimulate related supply‑chain businesses.