2026.03.2719:39:59UTC+00Uruguay Unemployment Holds at 7.4%

Uruguay’s unemployment rate held at 7.4% in February 2026, matching January’s figure and remaining at its highest level since May 2025. Joblessness was slightly higher in Montevideo, at 7.7%, compared with 7.2% in the rest of the country. By gender, the unemployment rate was 6.2% for men and 8.8% for women. Youth unemployment stayed elevated at 23.7% among those aged 14 to 24, while workers aged 65 and over recorded the lowest jobless rate at 2.1%. Among those employed, 8.8% were underemployed, and 22% were not registered with social security in their main job. The labor force participation rate was unchanged at 64.6%, and the employment rate also remained stable at 59.8%.