From Job Creation to Destruction: Deputy Macías Challenges Government Over Rising Unemployment

Original article: De crear empleo a destruirlo: Diputada Macías cuestiona al gobierno por alza del desempleo

Deputy Andrea Macías Palma, representing the Aysén Region, has criticized the government for the decline in key labor market indicators, following the National Institute of Statistics (INE) report indicating that employment fell by 0.2% over twelve months and the unemployment rate reached 9.5% during the May-July 2026 quarter.

According to the figures provided by INE, this drop in employment marks a shift from the previous quarter, when this measure still reflected a growth of 0.7%. Deputy Macías believes that this trend reversal should raise alarms within the Executive branch.

«We expect a government that declared an emergency to provide clear responses to the rising unemployment. We cannot normalize the reality of more people searching for jobs with fewer available opportunities,» stated the Deputy.

The situation becomes even more concerning when examining other indicators from the National Employment Survey. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 9.4% over twelve months, while those seeking work for the first time and unable to find it rose by 20.9%. Moreover, the rate of informal employment reached 26.5%.

For Macías, these statistics indicate that the issue is not limited to a temporary rise in unemployment; instead, there is a broader deterioration of labor conditions.

«Chile has stopped creating new jobs. A quarter ago, employment was still growing, and now it is declining. This is a warning signal that the government should not continue to ignore,» she emphasized.

«Concrete Measures»

The decline in employment has particularly affected men, with male employment decreasing by 1.1% over twelve months, while female employment recorded a growth of 1.0%.

The Deputy argued that the government must respond to this scenario with specific measures, especially considering that job creation is one of the main factors for providing stability to families.

«While the government speaks of recovery, the official figures illustrate a different reality. People are losing their jobs, others have been job hunting for months, and young individuals are trying to enter the labor market without finding opportunities. This situation requires a concrete response and not just an explanation of the numbers,» Macías warned.

In conclusion, the Deputy called on the government to strengthen investment policies and job creation efforts, particularly focusing on regions and areas where job opportunities are limited.

«If the government has declared an emergency, then we expect it to act accordingly. In light of these figures, we need a clear strategy to start generating jobs and opportunities again because behind each percentage are families that need to work and have certainty about their future,» concluded the Deputy.

We will continue to provide updates.