Economy, jobs and prices in Rio Negro, Uruguay: official figures
The unemployment rate in Rio Negro was 8.9% in the June-August 2026 moving quarter (Uruguay: 7.1%), joint 4th highest of 19 departments; about 2,600 people were unemployed.
What is the employment rate in Rio Negro?
54.9% of working-age people in Rio Negro were in employment in June-August 2026, against 59.5% nationally; this was joint 3rd lowest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Rio Negro?
The labour-force participation (activity) rate in Rio Negro was 60.3% in June-August 2026 (Uruguay: 64.0%), 6th lowest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow many people are employed in Rio Negro?
Rio Negro had about 26,200 employed residents in June-August 2026, 1.5% of the 1,764,100 employed nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow common is informal work in Rio Negro?
22.8% of employed people in Rio Negro were not registered with social security in June-August 2026, compared with 20.9% nationally; this was 7th lowest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow large is the labour force in Rio Negro?
The active labour force of Rio Negro (employed plus unemployed) was about 28,800 people in June-August 2026, 1.5% of the national total of 1,898,100.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow Rio Negro compares with other departments
Unemployment rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
Rio Negro 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 | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Treinta Y Tres | 10.6% |
| 3 | Durazno | 10.5% |
| 4 | Tacuarembo | 8.9% |
| 5 | Rio Negro | 8.9% |
| 6 | Soriano | 8.8% |
| 7 | Paysandu | 8.3% |
| 8 | Canelones | 7.4% |
Employment rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
Rio Negro ranks 17 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Cerro Largo | 56.8% |
| 14 | Rivera | 55.7% |
| 15 | Artigas | 55.4% |
| 16 | Tacuarembo | 54.9% |
| 17 | Rio Negro | 54.9% |
| 18 | Rocha | 54.3% |
| 19 | Treinta Y Tres | 48.3% |
Labour-force participation rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
Rio Negro ranks 14 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Colonia | 62.2% |
| 12 | Artigas | 62.1% |
| 13 | San Jose | 60.8% |
| 14 | Rio Negro | 60.3% |
| 15 | Tacuarembo | 60.2% |
| 16 | Cerro Largo | 59.1% |
| 17 | Rocha | 58.2% |
Employed people not registered with social security (Jun-Aug 2026)
Rio Negro ranks 13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Colonia | 23.9% |
| 11 | Maldonado | 23.2% |
| 12 | Lavalleja | 23.1% |
| 13 | Rio Negro | 22.8% |
| 14 | Canelones | 22.1% |
| 15 | Paysandu | 22.0% |
| 16 | Montevideo | 15.2% |
More on Rio Negro: 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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