Chile implements ‘Chile Despega’ plan to boost employment

The Chilean government is implementing the ‘Chile Despega’ interministerial plan to combat high unemployment rates, which have remained above 8% for an extended period. The initiative focuses on revitalizing the economy through several key pillars: accelerating public and private investment by reducing bureaucracy, injecting resources into public works—such as a 24 billion peso allocation for road conservation in the Arica y Parinacota region—and promoting formal employment through extended hiring subsidies.

To ensure the plan addresses local needs, the Division of Social Organizations (DOS) has launched the ‘Chile Despega con Más Pega’ citizen dialogue series. These meetings, held in regions like Ñuble, allow authorities to hear directly from residents regarding labor barriers and economic opportunities.

Parallel to these structural efforts, experts are highlighting the growing issue of ‘ninis’—young people who neither study nor work. This phenomenon is being analyzed as a structural problem linked to high youth unemployment, reflecting a gap in both the educational and professional systems.