Chile's unemployment rate holds at 9.4% in April‑June 2026 FAST-MOVING
Chile's national unemployment rate remained at 9.4% in the April‑June 2026 quarter, matching the previous period but marking a 0.5‑point rise year‑on‑year and the highest level in five years. The INE reported about 980,270 people without work, with the rate for women at 10.4% and for men at 8.7%.
The labor force expanded by 1.5% while total employment grew only 0.9%, creating a 7.7% increase in the pool of job‑seekers. Informal employment reached 27% of the workforce, rising to 28.9% among women and 25.5% among men. Job growth was led by transport, administrative services and health, while self‑employment rose 8.6%.
Regional data showed higher unemployment in Biobío (10.4%) and above‑average levels in Maule. Government officials, including Labour Minister Tomás Rau and Deputy Economy Minister Daniel Mas, highlighted the “employment mode” plan, subsidies for hiring, tax incentives and other measures aimed at accelerating formal, quality job creation.
Entities: Chile · Daniel Mas · Fundación Chile Dual · Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas · Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (INE) · Mesa de Reactivación Laboral · Randstad · Tomás Rau
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The labor force grew by 1.5% while employment grew by 0.9%, leading to a 7.7% increase in the number of unemployed. (INE)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 980,270 people were unemployed in Chile during the quarter. (INE)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points compared with the same quarter in 2025. (INE)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Informal employment accounted for 27% of the workforce nationally, 28.9% among women and 25.5% among men. (INE)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Chile's national unemployment rate was 9.4% in the April‑June 2026 quarter. (Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (INE))
- [● 3 SOURCES] Female unemployment rate was 10.4% and male unemployment rate was 8.7% in the period. (INE)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Job growth was led by the transport, administrative services and health sectors, while self‑employment rose 8.6%. (INE)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Labour Minister Tomás Rau and Deputy Minister Daniel Mas announced measures such as the “employment mode”, hiring subsidies and tax incentives to boost formal job creation. (Government statements)