Economy, jobs and prices in Montevideo, Uruguay: official figures
The unemployment rate in Montevideo was 7.1% in the June-August 2026 moving quarter (Uruguay: 7.1%), 9th highest of 19 departments; about 53,700 people were unemployed.
What is the employment rate in Montevideo?
60.8% of working-age people in Montevideo were in employment in June-August 2026, against 59.5% nationally; this was 5th highest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Montevideo?
The labour-force participation (activity) rate in Montevideo was 65.5% in June-August 2026 (Uruguay: 64.0%), joint 5th highest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow many people are employed in Montevideo?
Montevideo had about 701,600 employed residents in June-August 2026, 39.8% of the 1,764,100 employed nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow common is informal work in Montevideo?
15.2% of employed people in Montevideo were not registered with social security in June-August 2026, compared with 20.9% nationally; this was 4th lowest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow large is the labour force in Montevideo?
The active labour force of Montevideo (employed plus unemployed) was about 755,300 people in June-August 2026, 39.8% of the national total of 1,898,100.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow Montevideo compares with other departments
Unemployment rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
Montevideo ranks 9 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Soriano | 8.8% |
| 7 | Paysandu | 8.3% |
| 8 | Canelones | 7.4% |
| 9 | Montevideo | 7.1% |
| 10 | Colonia | 6.9% |
| 11 | Lavalleja | 6.9% |
| 12 | Salto | 6.7% |
Employment rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
Montevideo ranks 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Soriano | 64.1% |
| 3 | Florida | 63.0% |
| 4 | Paysandu | 61.5% |
| 5 | Montevideo | 60.8% |
| 6 | Flores | 60.6% |
| 7 | Lavalleja | 59.2% |
| 8 | Salto | 58.9% |
Labour-force participation rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
Montevideo ranks 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Maldonado | 68.8% |
| 3 | Florida | 67.1% |
| 4 | Paysandu | 67.0% |
| 5 | Montevideo | 65.5% |
| 6 | Durazno | 65.5% |
| 7 | Lavalleja | 63.6% |
| 8 | Canelones | 63.1% |
Employed people not registered with social security (Jun-Aug 2026)
Montevideo ranks 16 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Rio Negro | 22.8% |
| 14 | Canelones | 22.1% |
| 15 | Paysandu | 22.0% |
| 16 | Montevideo | 15.2% |
| 17 | San Jose | 12.9% |
| 18 | Florida | 12.2% |
| 19 | Flores | 8.3% |
More on Montevideo: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.