Economy, jobs and prices in Colonia, Uruguay: official figures
The unemployment rate in Colonia was 6.9% in the June-August 2026 moving quarter (Uruguay: 7.1%), joint 10th highest of 19 departments; about 4,800 people were unemployed.
What is the employment rate in Colonia?
57.9% of working-age people in Colonia were in employment in June-August 2026, against 59.5% nationally; this was 9th lowest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Colonia?
The labour-force participation (activity) rate in Colonia was 62.2% in June-August 2026 (Uruguay: 64.0%), 9th lowest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow many people are employed in Colonia?
Colonia had about 64,100 employed residents in June-August 2026, 3.6% of the 1,764,100 employed nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow common is informal work in Colonia?
23.9% of employed people in Colonia were not registered with social security in June-August 2026, compared with 20.9% nationally; this was 10th highest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow large is the labour force in Colonia?
The active labour force of Colonia (employed plus unemployed) was about 68,900 people in June-August 2026, 3.6% of the national total of 1,898,100.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow Colonia compares with other departments
Unemployment rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
Colonia ranks 10 of 19, highest first. Three-month moving average from the household survey (ECH), by place of residence; INE advises against reading small differences as a strict ranking because of sampling error.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Paysandu | 8.3% |
| 8 | Canelones | 7.4% |
| 9 | Montevideo | 7.1% |
| 10 | Colonia | 6.9% |
| 11 | Lavalleja | 6.9% |
| 12 | Salto | 6.7% |
| 13 | Rocha | 6.7% |
Employment rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
Colonia ranks 11 of 19, highest first. Three-month moving average from the household survey (ECH), by place of residence; INE advises against reading small differences as a strict ranking because of sampling error.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Salto | 58.9% |
| 9 | Durazno | 58.6% |
| 10 | Canelones | 58.4% |
| 11 | Colonia | 57.9% |
| 12 | San Jose | 57.4% |
| 13 | Cerro Largo | 56.8% |
| 14 | Rivera | 55.7% |
Labour-force participation rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
Colonia ranks 11 of 19, highest first. Three-month moving average from the household survey (ECH), by place of residence; INE advises against reading small differences as a strict ranking because of sampling error.
| Rank | Region | Labour-force participation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Canelones | 63.1% |
| 9 | Salto | 63.1% |
| 10 | Flores | 62.5% |
| 11 | Colonia | 62.2% |
| 12 | Artigas | 62.1% |
| 13 | San Jose | 60.8% |
| 14 | Rio Negro | 60.3% |
Employed people not registered with social security (Jun-Aug 2026)
Colonia ranks 10 of 19, highest first. Three-month moving average from the household survey (ECH), by place of residence; INE advises against reading small differences as a strict ranking because of sampling error.
| Rank | Region | Employed people not registered with social security |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Soriano | 27.0% |
| 8 | Rocha | 26.8% |
| 9 | Treinta Y Tres | 24.5% |
| 10 | Colonia | 23.9% |
| 11 | Maldonado | 23.2% |
| 12 | Lavalleja | 23.1% |
| 13 | Rio Negro | 22.8% |
More on Colonia: overview · health · education and schools · Uruguay
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay: Mercado de trabajo por area geografica de residencia (ECH), June-August 2026: Tables 1-3 by department, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 410c443622d8…)
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