Río Negro and Neuquén top Argentine provinces in private‑sector job growth

Between November 2023 and February 2026, Río Negro recorded a 2.9 % rise in registered private‑sector employment, making it one of only two provinces to grow while the national average fell 3.2 %. The province’s governor, Alberto Weretilneck, credited the increase to clear planning rules, public works, productive investment and a focus on regional industries.

A separate labour survey shows Neuquén posted the second‑highest private‑employment rate nationwide, with 219 formal private workers per 1,000 inhabitants, driven largely by the Vaca Muerta energy complex. Río Negro recorded 154 private workers per 1,000, ahead of the national average of 144. The study highlighted the provinces’ diversified economies – fruit, livestock, agriculture, fishing, tourism and SMEs in Río Negro – and noted that while private‑sector jobs are rising, many workers still face precarious arrangements such as monotributo and informal employment.

Both reports underline the growing importance of Argentina’s Patagonian region in national labour statistics, contrasting the provincial gains with broader declines in private‑sector employment across the country.