Costa Rica sheds 56,000 jobs as labour force participation hits multi-year low
Updated
Updated · The Tico Times · May 9
Costa Rica sheds 56,000 jobs as labour force participation hits multi-year low
7 articles · Updated · The Tico Times · May 9
In January-March 2026, employment fell to 2.16 million, while 117,848 more people left the workforce, pushing the employment rate down 1.9 points to 50.3%.
Women were hit hardest, losing 45,229 jobs; female employment fell to 38.2%, and 58.4% of working-age women were outside the labour force. The unemployment rate still dropped to 7.1% as fewer people sought work.
Manufacturing lost 38,000 jobs and finance and insurance 25,000, while informal employment stayed high at 38.2%. Economists cite export weakness, slower services hiring and childcare barriers as structural drags.
As Costa Rica's economy grows, why are tens of thousands of workers, particularly women, being left behind?
A soaring currency is crushing exporters. Is this the unintended price of Costa Rica's economic policy?