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Colombia Unemployment Rate

Colombia's unemployment rate fell to 8.6% in August 2025 from 8.8% in July 2025. This decline reflects strength in the labor market with job growth in private companies within Accommodation and Food Services and Transportation. Expected GDP growth of 2.5% for 2025, driven by private consumption, is anticipated to further support employment. Recent labor reforms enacted in June 2025 aim to enhance worker protections and formal employment, potentially sustaining labor market gains. Colombia's record low unemployment rate was 7.33% in November 2015 and record high was 21.01% in May 2020.

Monthly Historical Data (2015-2025)

(in %)
Month Unemployment Rate
Aug 2025 8.6%
Jul 2025 8.8%
Jun 2025 8.6%
May 2025 9%
Apr 2025 8.8%
Mar 2025 9.6%
Feb 2025 10.3%
Jan 2025 11.6%
Dec 2024 9.1%
Nov 2024 8.2%
Oct 2024 9.1%
Sep 2024 9.1%
Aug 2024 9.7%
Jul 2024 9.9%
Jun 2024 10.3%
May 2024 10.3%
Apr 2024 10.6%
Mar 2024 11.3%
Feb 2024 11.7%
Jan 2024 12.7%
Dec 2023 10%
Nov 2023 9%
Oct 2023 9.2%
Sep 2023 9.3%
Aug 2023 9.3%
Jul 2023 9.6%
Jun 2023 9.3%
May 2023 10.5%
Apr 2023 10.7%
Mar 2023 10%
Feb 2023 11.4%
Jan 2023 13.7%
Dec 2022 10.3%
Nov 2022 9.5%
Oct 2022 9.7%
Sep 2022 10.7%
Aug 2022 10.6%
Jul 2022 11%
Jun 2022 11.3%
May 2022 10.6%
Apr 2022 11.2%
Mar 2022 12.1%
Feb 2022 12.9%
Jan 2022 14.6%
Dec 2021 11.1%
Nov 2021 11.5%
Oct 2021 12%
Sep 2021 12%
Aug 2021 12.9%
Jul 2021 13.1%
Jun 2021 14.6%
May 2021 15.2%
Apr 2021 15.5%
Mar 2021 14.7%
Feb 2021 15.5%
Jan 2021 17.5%
Dec 2020 13.2%
Nov 2020 13.2%
Oct 2020 14.5%
Sep 2020 15.5%
Aug 2020 16.6%
Jul 2020 20%
Jun 2020 19.4%
May 2020 21%
Apr 2020 19.6%
Mar 2020 12.5%
Feb 2020 12.2%
Jan 2020 12.8%
Dec 2019 9.4%
Nov 2019 9.1%
Oct 2019 9.6%
Sep 2019 10.3%
Aug 2019 10.7%
Jul 2019 10.7%
Jun 2019 9.2%
May 2019 10.4%
Apr 2019 10.2%
Mar 2019 10.7%
Feb 2019 11.6%
Jan 2019 12.5%
Dec 2018 9.5%
Nov 2018 8.6%
Oct 2018 8.9%
Sep 2018 9.2%
Aug 2018 9%
Jul 2018 9.6%
Jun 2018 8.9%
May 2018 9.6%
Apr 2018 9.3%
Mar 2018 9.4%
Feb 2018 10.7%
Jan 2018 11.6%
Dec 2017 8.5%
Nov 2017 8.4%
Oct 2017 8.4%
Sep 2017 9.2%
Aug 2017 9.1%
Jul 2017 9.6%
Jun 2017 8.6%
May 2017 9.5%
Apr 2017 8.8%
Mar 2017 9.5%
Feb 2017 10.5%
Jan 2017 11.5%
Dec 2016 8.8%
Nov 2016 7.5%
Oct 2016 8.3%
Sep 2016 8.5%
Aug 2016 8.9%
Jul 2016 9.9%
Jun 2016 8.9%
May 2016 8.9%
Apr 2016 9%
Mar 2016 10.1%
Feb 2016 10%
Jan 2016 11.8%
Dec 2015 8.6%
Nov 2015 7.3%
Oct 2015 8.2%
Sep 2015 8.8%
Aug 2015 9%
Jul 2015 9%

Recent Events

datetime event actual previous consensus
2025-09-30 11:00 AM Unemployment Rate (Aug) 8.6% 8.8% -
2025-08-29 11:00 AM Unemployment Rate (Jul) 8.8% 8.6% 8.9%

Next Release Date :

Colombia Unemployment Rate : Definition
The Colombia unemployment rate represents the portion of the labor force actively seeking but not finding employment. Colombia's Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) calculates this by dividing the number of unemployed persons by the total labor force (employed plus unemployed individuals) and expressing the result as a percentage.
Indicator Last Value Prior Value Period
Annual Unemployment Rate 9.61% 9.59% 2024
Female Labor Force Rate 51.73% 51.86% 2024