The National Administrative Department of Statistics (Dane) reported that the national unemployment rate for the July-September 2025 quarter fell to 8.3%, but in Neiva it rose to 9.4%. This Opita city is the only exception among major cities where the indicator increased for the fourth consecutive quarter. Nationally, September recorded 8.2%, the lowest level since 2001.
The Dane report reveals a positive trend in Colombia's labor market, with the national unemployment rate for the July-September 2025 mobile quarter at 8.3%, a decline from the previous period. However, Neiva stands out as the exception: its rate rose from 9.1% to 9.4%, marking four consecutive quarters of increase and exceeding the national average. Over 15,000 people in the Huila capital are seeking jobs, employed population fell to 144,000, and those outside the labor force rose to 112,000.
In Neiva, labor informality reached 52.3%, affecting more than half of the employed without secure contracts or social protection. The Dane details job losses in manufacturing industries, commerce and vehicle repair, professional activities and administrative services, as well as artistic and recreational activities. Conversely, jobs were created in construction, accommodation and food services, and in public administration, education, and health.
Nationally, September 2025 recorded 8.2% unemployment, the lowest for that month since 2001 and a 0.9 percentage point reduction from the previous year. In the 13 main cities, the rate was 8.1%. Quibdó leads at 24.0%, followed by others like Riohacha (14.2%), while Medellín hit the minimum at 6.4%. Dane director Piedad Urdinola stated: “A decrease for each of these geographic domains, in this case the exception is Neiva, which grew from 9.1% to 9.4%, an increase of 0.4 percentage points that is not statistically significant”.
President Gustavo Petro celebrated the figure on X: “Again for the month of September we have the lowest unemployment rate of the century”, and anticipated further reduction in November. However, María Claudia Lacouture, president of the Colombian-American Chamber, warned: “The decrease in unemployment will always be good news, but informality remains high”. Colombia holds the third highest rate in the OECD, after Finland and Spain.