Unemployment claims rise 30 percent in Argentina this year
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In Argentina, 145,004 workers who lost their jobs without cause registered for unemployment benefits between January and September of 2026.
This represents a 29.4 percent increase compared to the 112,056 who registered during the same period in 2025, with the largest increases occurring in the industry, commerce, and construction sectors. In September alone, 127,613 people received the benefit, averaging $325,368, an 18.7 percent increase from the previous year, though still below the country’s 33.4 percent inflation rate.
The majority of those receiving benefits were men, with 86,288 male and 41,325 female recipients. Buenos Aires province had the highest concentration of recipients at 54,936, followed by Santa Fe, Córdoba, and Buenos Aires City. Over the last two years and nine months of the Javier Milei administration, a total of 473,186 unemployment benefits have been issued.
To qualify for the benefit, workers covered by Employment Law 24.013 must have been dismissed without just cause, or had their contract end, and have at least six months of contributions during the three years prior to dismissal. Benefits are paid for up to 12 months, potentially longer for workers over 45. While receiving benefits, individuals maintain their health insurance, family allowances, and credit toward retirement.
