The Colombian labor market faces significant challenges, especially when analyzing the most vulnerable groups. The situation for young people is complex.

During the February-April quarter of 2023, the overall unemployment rate stood at 10.7%, while among the young population, it was 18%, representing a difference of 7.3 percentage points.

In Colombia, there are 2.7 million unemployed individuals, and out of that total, 1.1 million are between the ages of 15 and 28. This means that young people make up 42% of the unemployed population in the country.

According to statistics from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), gender gaps are also reinforced within this age range. The unemployment rate for young men is 14.5%, while for women, it is 22.9%. Among the unemployed young people, 529,000 are men, and 615,000 are women.

Official statistics indicate that in Colombia, there are 2.74 million individuals between the ages of 15 and 28 who are neither working nor studying. When we disaggregate the data by gender, the percentage is 8.1% for men and 16.1% for women. According to DANE figures, within this age group, 5.2 million are employed, while 4.9 million are outside the labor force. In other words, they are individuals who are neither employed nor actively seeking employment.

The temporary services sector in Colombia can play an even more significant role in increasing employability while providing easy access to the formal labor market. Promoting this sector is crucial for the most vulnerable groups in the country.

Foto de Papaioannou Kostas en Unsplash