DANE reported that the unemployment rate in Colombia in July 2025 was 8.8%, the lowest figure for this month since 2001. In comparison, the rate in July 2024 was 9.6%.
According to the agency, the number of employed people reached 24.2 million, while the unemployed population fell to 2.3 million. The cities with the greatest reductions in unemployment were Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali.
The labor force participation rate stood at 64.3%, a slight increase compared to the same month last year. DANE highlighted that this trend was driven by sectors such as commerce, transportation, accommodation, and food services.
The Minister of Labor noted that the economic recovery and employability programs have contributed to this improvement. However, experts warn that challenges related to informal employment and the quality of the jobs generated remain.
Sources cited:
1) DANE. *Technical bulletin of the labor market July 2025*. https://www.dane.gov.co/index.php/estadisticas-por-tema/mercado-laboral
2) El Espectador. *Unemployment in Colombia falls to 8.8%, the lowest figure for July since 2001*. https://www.elespectador.com/economia/desempleo-en-colombia-cae-a-88-la-cifra-mas-baja-para-un-julio-desde-2001/