Economy, jobs and prices in San Jose, Uruguay: official figures
The unemployment rate in San Jose was 5.6% in the June-August 2026 moving quarter (Uruguay: 7.1%), 5th lowest of 19 departments; about 3,500 people were unemployed.
What is the employment rate in San Jose?
57.4% of working-age people in San Jose were in employment in June-August 2026, against 59.5% nationally; this was 8th lowest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in San Jose?
The labour-force participation (activity) rate in San Jose was 60.8% in June-August 2026 (Uruguay: 64.0%), 7th lowest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow many people are employed in San Jose?
San Jose had about 58,200 employed residents in June-August 2026, 3.3% of the 1,764,100 employed nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow common is informal work in San Jose?
12.9% of employed people in San Jose were not registered with social security in June-August 2026, compared with 20.9% nationally; this was 3rd lowest of 19 departments.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow large is the labour force in San Jose?
The active labour force of San Jose (employed plus unemployed) was about 61,600 people in June-August 2026, 3.2% of the national total of 1,898,100.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE), Uruguay · saved copyHow San Jose compares with other departments
Unemployment rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
San Jose ranks 15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Salto | 6.7% |
| 13 | Rocha | 6.7% |
| 14 | Florida | 6.1% |
| 15 | San Jose | 5.6% |
| 16 | Maldonado | 4.7% |
| 17 | Rivera | 4.1% |
| 18 | Cerro Largo | 3.8% |
Employment rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
San Jose ranks 12 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 15 | Artigas | 55.4% |
Labour-force participation rate (Jun-Aug 2026)
San Jose 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 | Labour-force participation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Flores | 62.5% |
| 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% |
Employed people not registered with social security (Jun-Aug 2026)
San Jose 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 | 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 San Jose: 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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