Economy, jobs and prices in La Pampa, Argentina: official figures
The 2022 census found 11,300 unemployed people in La Pampa out of 187,803 economically active residents aged 14 and over, an unemployment rate of 6.0%; 2nd lowest of the 23 provinces and Buenos Aires City (Argentina: 8.5%).
How many people in La Pampa have a job?
176,503 residents aged 14 and over in La Pampa were in work at the 2022 census, 61.5% of that age group, 4th highest of the 23 provinces and Buenos Aires City (Argentina: 58.2%); 65.4% were working or looking for work.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (INDEC) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in La Pampa now?
Unemployment in the Santa Rosa - Toay urban area was 6.7% in the second quarter of 2026, according to INDEC's Permanent Household Survey (EPH) (coefficient of variation 16.3%: INDEC advises treating it with caution); joint 16th highest of the 32 urban areas INDEC reports (all 31 areas: 7.9%). The survey covers this urban area, not the whole province.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (INDEC) · saved copyIs unemployment rising in La Pampa?
A year earlier, in the second quarter of 2025, unemployment in the Santa Rosa - Toay area was 6.3%, so the rate is up 0.4 percentage points (all 31 areas: 7.6% to 7.9%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (INDEC) · saved copyHow many people in La Pampa are underemployed?
13.8% of the workforce in the Santa Rosa - Toay area was underemployed (working fewer hours than they wanted) in the second quarter of 2026, and 22.0% were in work but looking for another job (all 31 areas: 11.5% and 16.9%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (INDEC) · saved copyHow La Pampa compares with other provinces
Unemployment rate (Census 2022) (2022)
La Pampa ranks 23 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (Census 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Buenos Aires City | 7.5% |
| 19 | La Rioja | 7.1% |
| 20 | Neuquen | 7.0% |
| 21 | Formosa | 6.7% |
| 22 | Chaco | 6.6% |
| 23 | La Pampa | 6.0% |
| 24 | Misiones | 5.9% |
Employment rate, ages 14+ (Census 2022) (2022)
La Pampa ranks 4 of 24, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 14+ (Census 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buenos Aires City | 62.9% |
| 2 | Tierra del Fuego | 62.5% |
| 3 | Neuquen | 61.6% |
| 4 | La Pampa | 61.5% |
| 5 | Santa Cruz | 61.3% |
| 6 | Chubut | 60.8% |
| 7 | La Rioja | 60.1% |
Unemployment rate in the province's largest EPH urban area (Q2 2026)
La Pampa ranks 11 of 24, highest first. INDEC's household survey covers 31 urban areas, not whole provinces; each province is shown by its largest surveyed urban area.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate in the province's largest EPH urban area |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Tierra del Fuego | 8.1% |
| 9 | Chaco | 7.5% |
| 10 | Entre Rios | 6.7% |
| 11 | La Pampa | 6.7% |
| 12 | Catamarca | 6.4% |
| 13 | Misiones | 5.9% |
| 14 | Buenos Aires City | 5.6% |
More on La Pampa: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Argentina
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (INDEC): Censo 2022, resultados definitivos: Cuadro 1, population aged 14 and over in private dwellings by economic activity status and jurisdiction, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa4f85e28dc7…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos (INDEC): Mercado de trabajo: tasas e indicadores socioeconomicos (EPH), segundo trimestre de 2026: Cuadros 1.2-1.4 and 1.8 (labour-market rates by urban area, reference population, unemployment coefficients of variation, unemployment series 2016-2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1e66ffc84c08…)
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