Argentina’s unemployment rate rose to 7.8% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 7.5% in the previous quarter. The number of unemployed reached 1.1 million people. By region, unemployment was highest in Greater Buenos Aires at 8.7%, followed by the Pampas region at 8.2%. The jobless rate stood at 8.3% for women and 7.5% for men. Among the unemployed, 28.2% were the main income providers in their households. By education level, 36% had completed secondary education, while 10.8% had tertiary or university studies. Regarding job-search duration, 31.8% had been looking for work for more than a year, while 78.7% had previous work experience. By sector, 16.8% had last worked in construction and 16.6% in commerce. Meanwhile, the employment rate edged down to 44.8% from 45%, while labor force participation remained stable at 48.6%.