Key Facts
—The number. Chile’s jobless rate rose to 9.1% in the February–April 2026 moving quarter, up 0.3 points on a year earlier, the national statistics institute INE reported.
—The streak. Unemployment has now stayed at or above 8% for more than 38 consecutive months — over three years without dropping below that line.
—The cause. The rise was not mass layoffs but a labour force growing 1.0% while employment grew only 0.7%, leaving job creation unable to absorb new entrants.
—The quality. Informal employment reached 26.5% of all jobs, and average weekly hours worked slipped to about 36, signs that job quality is also under strain.
