---
source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INDEC)
url: https://www.indec.gob.ar/
document_type: labor_force_survey_release
date_retrieved: 2026-03-18
period: Q4 2025 (October-December)
parent_publication: Encuesta Permanente de Hogares (EPH) - Permanent Household Survey
indicators_covered: [Unemployment Rate, Employment Rate, Labor Force Participation, Gender Analysis, Regional Breakdown]
source_verified_by: Trading Economics Calendar (https://tradingeconomics.com/argentina/calendar)
---

# Argentina Unemployment Rate — Q4 2025

## Executive Summary

Argentina's unemployment rate rose to **7.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025**, up sharply from 6.6% in Q3 2025. This represents a reversal of the downward trend observed in the previous quarter and reflects continued labor market challenges in the country. The increase was broad-based, affecting both men and women, though women experienced higher joblessness at 8.1% compared to 7.0% for men.

## Key Indicators

### National Unemployment Rate
- **Q4 2025 Actual:** 7.5%
- **Q3 2025 (Previous):** 6.6%
- **Change:** +0.9 percentage points
- **Consensus Forecast:** 6.3%

### Labor Market Composition

| Indicator | Q4 2025 | Q3 2025 | Change |
|-----------|---------|---------|--------|
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5% | 6.6% | +0.9 pp |
| Employment Rate | 45.0% | 45.4% | -0.4 pp |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 48.6% | 48.6% | 0.0 pp |
| Unemployment — Women | 8.1% | 7.4% | +0.7 pp |
| Unemployment — Men | 7.0% | 5.9% | +1.1 pp |

## Geographic Breakdown

Unemployment rates varied significantly by region, with Greater Buenos Aires experiencing the highest joblessness:

| Region | Unemployment Rate |
|--------|-------------------|
| Greater Buenos Aires (GBA) | 8.6% |
| Pampeana Region | 7.7% |
| National Average | 7.5% |

## Demographic Profile of the Unemployed

### Education Level
Among the unemployed population:
- **Secondary education or less:** 66.8%
- **Some tertiary or university education:** 33.2%

This indicates that less-educated workers face disproportionately higher unemployment risk, though the gap narrowed slightly compared to previous quarters due to the rise in overall unemployment.

### Job Search Duration
- **Seeking work for up to 12 months:** 69.9%
- **Unemployed for more than one year:** 30.1%

The fact that 30% of the unemployed have been searching for more than a year highlights structural challenges in the labor market and difficulties in job reintegration.

## Context and Interpretation

The Q4 2025 unemployment increase marks a concerning reversal after Q3 2025 registered its lowest rate since Q4 2024 at 6.6%. The 0.9 percentage point rise indicates renewed weakness in the labor market as 2025 closed.

### Gender Disparities
Women continue to bear a disproportionate share of unemployment. At 8.1%, female unemployment exceeds male unemployment (7.0%) by 1.1 percentage points. This gap widened from Q3's 1.5 percentage point differential, suggesting some convergence but persistent gender inequality in labor market outcomes.

### Regional Concentration
Greater Buenos Aires (8.6%) and the Pampeana region (7.7%) drove much of the national increase, indicating that urban employment challenges were concentrated in Argentina's most economically developed regions.

### Employment and Participation Trends
The employment rate declined slightly from 45.4% to 45.0%, while labor force participation remained stable at 48.6%. This suggests that the unemployment increase was driven primarily by job losses rather than net changes in labor force entry.

## Survey Methodology

The data comes from Argentina's **Encuesta Permanente de Hogares (EPH)** — Permanent Household Survey — the official labor force survey administered by the INDEC.

### Survey Specifications
- **Coverage:** 31 urban agglomerations across Argentina
- **Population Coverage:** Approximately 29% of Argentina's total population
- **Sample Size:** Approximately 20,000 households
- **Survey Frequency:** Quarterly (conducted in January, April, July, and October)
- **Seasonal Adjustment:** X-13 ARIMA methodology applied to all series
- **Sampling Error:** ±0.3–0.5 percentage points (95% confidence level)
- **ILO Methodology:** Data compiled following International Labour Organization definitions and standards for international comparability

### Data Comparability
The EPH provides quarterly data comparable back to Q4 2024 and historical series extending further. All figures use seasonally adjusted, chain-linked indices where applicable to maintain consistency across releases.

## Historical Context

The Q4 2025 rate of 7.5% reflects the endpoint of a volatile 2025 for Argentina's labor market:
- **Q1 2025:** Unemployment was at 7.9% (not yet available in this extract but referenced in context)
- **Q2 2025:** 7.6%–7.7%
- **Q3 2025:** 6.6% (lowest since Q4 2024)
- **Q4 2025:** 7.5% (reversal)

The year closed with net job losses across multiple sectors, despite some earlier-quarter improvements.

## Notes and Data Quality

1. **Timeliness:** This release represents data collected and processed through Q4 2025 (October–December), with release on 18–19 March 2026.

2. **Urban Focus:** The EPH covers urban areas and may not fully capture rural or semi-formal employment. The 29% population coverage reflects the urban-centric nature of the survey.

3. **Education Data Caveats:** Education classifications use Argentina's standard categories (completed primary, secondary, tertiary, university). The 66.8%–33.2% split suggests over two-thirds of unemployed lack tertiary education.

4. **Search Duration:** The 30.1% figure for long-term unemployment (>12 months) is notable and suggests structural labor market frictions.

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## Sources and References

- **Primary Source:** Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INDEC) — https://www.indec.gob.ar/
- **Data Authority:** INDEC Encuesta Permanente de Hogares (EPH)
- **Verification:** Trading Economics Calendar — https://tradingeconomics.com/argentina/unemployment-rate
- **Release Date (UTC):** 2026-03-18 19:00:00Z
- **Reference Period:** 2025-12-31 (Q4 2025)

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**Document Prepared:** 2026-03-18  
**Data Period:** Q4 2025 (October–December 2025)  
**Status:** Official INDEC Release