Argentina sees nearly 70% of firms cut staff in first half of 2026

A private study by the HR platform Bumeran found that almost 70% of Argentine companies reported layoffs during the first six months of 2026, with cost reduction cited as the primary motive by 61% of HR specialists. The survey, which included both HR professionals and workers, showed that 13% of employees had lost their jobs, while 64% of workers said they had not received any salary increase so far this year; of those who did, most described the raise as merely an inflation adjustment.

Official data from the Superintendencia de Riesgos del Trabajo (SRT) corroborated the trend, recording the closure of 5,654 firms and the dismissal of 43,680 workers between January and April, especially in the textile, footwear, auto‑parts, tire and metal sectors. The study also highlighted a rise in informal employment, with 29% of those exiting formal jobs moving into precarious or self‑employed work. Government labour policies were evaluated negatively by both specialists and workers.

The findings suggest a deepening of Argentina’s dual‑economy labour market, with continued salary‑containment expected in the second half of the year.