Economy, jobs and prices in Bocas Del Toro, Panama: official figures
The unemployment rate in Bocas Del Toro was 6.7% of the labour force in October 2024, 2.8 pp lower than the national figure (9.5%) and 6th highest of 13 provinces and comarcas.
Is unemployment rising in Bocas Del Toro?
In Bocas Del Toro the unemployment rate fell from 6.9% in August 2023 to 6.7% in October 2024 (-0.2 points); nationally it went from 7.4% to 9.5%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyHow many people are in the labour force in Bocas Del Toro?
74,033 of the 108,677 people aged 15 and over in Bocas Del Toro were in the labour force in October 2024, a participation rate of 68.1% against 63.3% nationally (5th highest of 13 provinces and comarcas).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyHow many people are employed in Bocas Del Toro?
In October 2024 69,076 people were employed in Bocas Del Toro, 63.6% of everyone aged 15 and over, compared with 57.3% nationally (5th highest of 13 provinces and comarcas).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyIs unemployment higher for women than men in Bocas Del Toro?
In October 2024 unemployment in Bocas Del Toro was 5.5% among men and 8.2% among women, an overall rate of 6.7%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyWhat is the open unemployment rate in Bocas Del Toro?
Open unemployment (people who searched for work and were available) was 4.6% of the labour force in Bocas Del Toro in October 2024, against 7.8% nationally; the rest of the 6.7% unemployment rate is hidden unemployment, such as people who stopped looking.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama · saved copyHow Bocas Del Toro compares with other provinces
Unemployment rate (% of labour force) (October 2024)
Bocas Del Toro ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (% of labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Colon | 10.3% |
| 3 | Chiriqui | 9.0% |
| 4 | Veraguas | 7.1% |
| 5 | Bocas Del Toro | 6.7% |
| 6 | Cocle | 5.8% |
| 7 | Darien | 4.8% |
| 8 | Herrera | 3.3% |
Labour force participation rate (age 15+) (October 2024)
Bocas Del Toro ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Labour force participation rate (age 15+) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ngabe Bugle | 75.4% |
| 3 | Darien | 70.2% |
| 4 | Cocle | 69.2% |
| 5 | Bocas Del Toro | 68.1% |
| 6 | Panama | 63.6% |
| 7 | Chiriqui | 61.6% |
| 8 | Los Santos | 60.9% |
Employed people as % of population aged 15+ (October 2024)
Bocas Del Toro ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employed people as % of population aged 15+ |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ngabe Bugle | 73.5% |
| 3 | Darien | 66.8% |
| 4 | Cocle | 65.2% |
| 5 | Bocas Del Toro | 63.6% |
| 6 | Los Santos | 59.3% |
| 7 | Kuna Yala | 58.4% |
| 8 | Herrera | 56.6% |
Invisible underemployment (% of employed) (October 2024)
Bocas Del Toro ranks 10 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Invisible underemployment (% of employed) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Ngabe Bugle | 12.8% |
| 7 | Veraguas | 12.8% |
| 8 | Chiriqui | 12.2% |
| 9 | Cocle | 12.1% |
| 10 | Bocas Del Toro | 12.0% |
| 11 | Panama | 10.5% |
| 12 | Los Santos | 9.4% |
More on Bocas Del Toro: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Panama
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censo (INEC), Contraloria General de la Republica de Panama: Encuesta de Mercado Laboral, agosto 2023 y octubre 2024, Cuadro 2: poblacion de 15 y mas anos por condicion de actividad economica, provincia y comarca, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 49e795f2161c…)
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