Spanish
Santo Domingo. — The Minister of Labor, Eddy Olivares, informed that the Dominican Republic continues to consolidate as one of the economies with the lowest unemployment rate in Latin America, according to the most recent data from the Labor Panorama 2025 of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
According to the indicators of the International Labour Organization (ILO), especially those appearing in ILOSTAT and in Panorama Laboral 2025, the unemployment rate of those seeking jobs in the Dominican Republic was around 4.9% in 2025, mainly driven by the expansion of employment-intensive sectors such as services, construction, and tourism.
In that sense, it is highlighted that unemployment in the Dominican Republic is at a level below the regional average, estimated by the ILO at approximately 6%, which reflects the strength of the Dominican labor market and the effectiveness of public policies aimed at job creation.
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"The country has achieved, under the leadership of President Luis Abinader, a sustained recovery of employment and today exhibits favorable labor indicators compared to the region. These results are the result of economic growth, social dialogue and a labor policy focused on people," said Minister Olivares. Likewise, the minister expressed his confidence that during the year 2026 the unemployment rate will be below 4.9%, achieved for the first time in 2025. On the other hand, Olivares Ortega emphasized that in 2026 the Ministry of Labor will focus on youth employment, whose unemployment rate exceeds the national average, as well as on the need to continue advancing in the formalization of employment and the reduction of gender gaps. "Our commitment is not only to create more jobs, but to ensure that they are decent, formal, and with access to social security, especially for young people and women," he affirmed. The Ministry of Labor reiterated that it will continue to promote labor intermediation programs, first employment, training of young people in the workplace, training and strengthening of inspection, in coordination with the private sector and workers, with the aim of consolidating a more inclusive and sustainable labor market. Olivares valued that the ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Ana Virginia Moreira Gomes, highlighted that the Labor Panorama 2025 was produced weeks after the successful 20th American Regional Meeting of the ILO, held in the Dominican Republic from October 1 to 3, 2025, in which the authorities of the region reaffirmed —through the Punta Cana Declaration— their commitment to decent work, formalization, and the reduction of structural inequalities. "As can be seen, in terms of employment, the Dominican Republic is moving in the right direction. Our challenge now is to deepen the achievements and ensure that employment growth translates into well-being and opportunities for all," concluded Minister Eddy Olivares.
