Argentina sees stark provincial employment contrasts as Corrientes lags and Neuquén booms

A recent report by the Instituto de Estudios sobre la Realidad Argentina y Latinoamericana (IERAL) shows that Corrientes province has one of the lowest public‑sector employment rates in the country, with only 55 public workers per 1,000 residents, and a weak private‑sector presence of 70 formal jobs per 1,000 people. The national averages are 50 public and 144 private jobs per 1,000 inhabitants, highlighting the province’s lagging labour market.

In contrast, Neuquén province recorded the strongest private‑sector job growth in Argentina, adding about 12,000 workers—a 7.1% increase—between November 2023 and April 2026. Growth is led by commerce, mining and construction, attracting roughly 100 incoming families each week. The surge is straining housing, health and education services, prompting the provincial government to introduce stricter residency requirements for housing and employment programmes.