Chile announces budget to create 100,000 jobs amid rising unemployment

President José Antonio Kast has announced a national budget aimed at creating over 100,000 jobs to address Chile’s rising unemployment rate, which has reached 9.6%, the highest in over five years. This economic shift comes as the number of first-time job seekers has increased by 23.2% over the last year.

While the OTIC CChC supports the government's focus on employment, the organization has raised concerns regarding a significant skills gap in the labor market. They noted that companies in critical sectors, such as mining and construction, are struggling to find qualified personnel with the necessary competencies for current and future roles.

To address this mismatch, the OTIC CChC is advocating for a legislative reform of the national training system. Proposed solutions include moving away from isolated training courses toward progressive educational pathways and providing better diagnostic support and training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and contractors.