Dane reported Colombia's February 2026 unemployment rate at 9.2%, the lowest for any February since 2001, with 2.45 million unemployed people. Occupied population rose to 24.09 million, up 624,000 from February 2025. President Gustavo Petro and Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino hailed the figures and defended the minimum wage increase.
The National Administrative Department of Statistics (Dane) released February 2026 labor market data, showing a national unemployment rate of 9.2%, the lowest for that month since 2001. There were 2.45 million unemployed, with the participation rate steady at 64.7% and occupation rate up to 58.7% from 58.0% a year earlier.
Occupied population grew to 24.09 million, an increase of 624,000 from February 2025. Key contributors were worker or private employee (530,000 more), employer (105,000), and domestic employee (58,000). Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino stated on X: "el salario vital no tuvo efectos negativos en el empleo; lo impulsó" (the vital wage had no negative effects on employment; it boosted it). He noted 814,000 formal jobs created, 189,000 informal jobs reduced, and informality down to 55.3%.
President Gustavo Petro celebrated on X: "Volvemos a un dígito de tasa de desocupación, 9,2%, la más baja desde el 2018" (We return to single-digit unemployment rate, 9.2%, the lowest since 2018). He said informality is falling with a trend toward "trabajo formal" (formal work). Sanguino highlighted female unemployment at 11.7% (lowest since 2010), rural at 6.8%, and youth at 16.5%.
For the December 2025-February 2026 moving quarter, unemployment was 9.4%, down 1.0 percentage point. Cities with highest rates included Quibdó (26.3%) and Riohacha (14.3%), while Bogotá had 8.2%.
