Colombia: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in Colombia?

The national unemployment rate was 9.4% in August 2026, up from 8.6% in August 2025, according to DANE's employment and unemployment page. The participation rate was 63.3% and the employment rate 57.4%.

In the 13 main cities and metropolitan areas, unemployment was 9.1%, up from 7.8% a year earlier. The figures come from the Gran Encuesta Integrada de Hogares (GEIH), a monthly household survey, and are not seasonally adjusted, so compare the same month across years.

Official sources: DANE: employment and unemployment

What is the minimum wage in Colombia in 2026?

The legal monthly minimum wage for 2026 is 1,750,905 pesos, according to Decree 0159 of 19 February 2026, as compiled by Colpensiones. The same amount was first set by Decree 1469 of 2025.

Decree 0159 says it sets the figure on a transitional basis, valid until the Council of State rules in the nullity case filed against the 2026 wage decree (file 11001-03-25-000-2026-00004-00). Workers earning up to two minimum wages also receive a monthly transport allowance of 249,095 pesos in 2026 under Decree 1470 of 2025.

Official sources: Decree 0159 of 2026 (Colpensiones legal compilation) · Decree 1469 of 2025 · Decree 1470 of 2025: transport allowance

What is the transport allowance (auxilio de transporte) in 2026?

The transport allowance is 249,095 pesos a month from 1 January 2026, according to Decree 1470 of 2025, as compiled by Colpensiones. It applies to public servants and private-sector workers earning up to two times the legal monthly minimum wage, in places where public transport operates.

The allowance is paid by the employer on top of the salary. The decree says the amount rose 24.5% from the 2025 value, in line with the evolution of transport costs.

Official sources: Decree 1470 of 2025: transport allowance 2026

How many workers in Colombia are informal?

54.8% of employed people in Colombia were informal in June to August 2026, down from 55.2% a year earlier, according to DANE's informal employment bulletin published on 13 October 2026. The rate was 40.7% in the 13 main cities and 83.1% in rural areas and small towns.

DANE counts workers as informal mainly when they do not contribute to health and pension schemes or work in very small unregistered businesses. Rates are for rolling three-month periods. The rate was 57.1% for men and 51.7% for women. More detail is on DANE's informal employment page.

Official sources: DANE: informal employment bulletin, June-August 2026 · DANE: informal employment and social security

How many people in Colombia have a job?

The employment rate, the share of the working-age population in work, was 57.4% in August 2026, 1.1 percentage points lower than the 58.4% of August 2025, according to DANE's employment and unemployment page.

In the 13 main cities and metropolitan areas the employment rate was 59.8%, down from 61.5%. DANE publishes the number of employed people, by sector and region, in the technical bulletin and annexes on the same page.

Official sources: DANE: employment and unemployment

How much is the minimum wage in Colombia?

In 2024, the statutory minimum wage in Colombia was 1,300,000 COP a month (about $319), according to the ILO. That is the highest since at least 2012.

How much do workers in Colombia earn on average?

According to the ILO, average monthly earnings of employees in Colombia was $499 a month in 2025. No year since 2012 has been higher. Latin America & Caribbean median: $523 a month; Colombia is 10th highest of 14. Worldwide: 46th of 57.

How high is unemployment in Colombia?

The ILO puts the unemployment rate in Colombia at 8.3% in 2025. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Latin America & Caribbean median: 6.0%; Colombia is 9th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 48th of 174.

What is the youth unemployment rate in Colombia?

17.7%: that is unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Colombia for 2025, according to the ILO. The peak was 27.2% in 2020 and the low 17.3% in 2015. Latin America & Caribbean median: 14.0%; Colombia is 14th highest of 29. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 58th highest.

What is the labour force participation rate in Colombia?

The ILO puts the labour force participation rate in Colombia at 63.4% in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2012, at 68.1%; its low point was 2022, at 63.2%. It is 15th highest of 29 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 63.4%. Worldwide: 79th of 174.

What share of women in Colombia are in the labour force?

According to the ILO, the labour force participation rate for women in Colombia was 51.6% in 2025. The peak was 56.0% in 2012 and the low 50.0% in 2007. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 52.5%, and Colombia placed 17th highest of 29. Worldwide: 101st of 174.

What share of adults in Colombia have a job?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 58.1%. The peak was 61.3% in 2012 and the low 53.3% in 2020. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 59.4%, and Colombia placed 16th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 87th of 174.

How common is self-employment in Colombia?

43.0%: that is the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Colombia for 2025, according to the ILO. The peak was 45.4% in 2011 and the low 37.8% in 2005. Latin America & Caribbean median: 29.8%; Colombia is 5th highest of 29. World rank, highest first: 60th of 174.

What share of jobs in Colombia are salaried?

According to the ILO, the share of workers who are paid employees in Colombia was 54.4% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 49.9% (2009) to 57.8% (2005). It is 25th highest of 29 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 64.8%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 113th highest.