Abstract

This study investigates unemployment trends in ten Latin American nations during the period 2010–2020, assessing their links with macroeconomic indicators and social conditions. Drawing upon statistical data provided by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the analysis examines unemployment patterns differentiated by sex, age cohort, level of education, income bracket, and residential location. The comparison of unemployment outcomes across these categories is undertaken through mean difference testing, while correlation techniques are applied to explore associations between unemployment and a range of economic and social variables. The results point to enduring disparities between men and women, with female workers persistently recording higher joblessness, most notably in Colombia, Brazil, and Uruguay. The evidence further suggests that education and vocational preparation exert a stronger influence on women’s employment prospects than on those of men. Considerable obstacles are also identified for young individuals, rural dwellers, and members of the lowest income quintiles. Moreover, unemployment rates are found to display an inverse association with factors such as consumer price inflation, public tax receipts, and expenditure on health services. Taken together, these findings highlight the urgency of implementing labour market strategies that incorporate gender perspectives, address informality, and expand educational and training opportunities. The research recommends that governments and policy actors integrate gender-sensitive approaches into frameworks of equality and equity, while also strengthening programmes designed to improve employment conditions and promote the dignity of work. Greater commitment to investment in education, skills development, and social protection is deemed essential, alongside the formulation of measures that foster fair and sustainable job opportunities for all segments of the population.